alcoholic
n. countablen. someone who is addicted to alcohol and finds it very difficult to stop drinking. You use this word to describe a person who has a serious illness related to drinking too much.
n. a person suffering from alcoholism, characterized by a chronic and often progressive dependency on alcohol. While historically standard, the term is increasingly replaced by person-first language in clinical contexts.
He joined a support group for alcoholics to help him stay sober.
The local community center hosts weekly meetings for recovering alcoholics to share their experiences and support one another.
Sociological studies often examine how the stigma attached to being labeled an alcoholic can prevent individuals from seeking the medical intervention necessary for long-term recovery.
Etymology tree Akkadian 𒎎𒋆𒁉𒍣𒁕 (guḫlum)bor. Aramaic כוחלא (kuḥlā)bor. Arabic كُحْل (kuḥl) Andalusian Arabic اَلْكُحُول (al-kuḥūl)bor. Medieval Latin alcoholder. Middle English alcofol English alcohol Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Italic *-kos Latin -cus Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English alcoholic First attested 1891, from alcohol + -ic.