Word
alcoholic
Phoneticsal·co·holic
US/ˌæɫkəˈhɑɫɪk/
UK/ˌælkəhˈɒlɪk/
Definitions
01containing alcohol
B1 · Intermediate
adj. containing alcohol, like beer, wine, or vodka.
adj. containing a significant or intoxicating amount of ethyl alcohol.
“The restaurant serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for the party.”
“The brewery produces a wide range of alcoholic beverages, though they have recently expanded into the growing market for zero-percent alternatives.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02related to alcohol
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Technical
adj. related to alcohol or the effects it has on the body.
adj. pertaining to, caused by, or characteristic of alcohol or alcoholism.
“The doctor explained the risks of alcoholic liver disease to the patient.”
“The patient presented with several symptoms of alcoholic gastritis, necessitating a strict dietary and lifestyle intervention.”
03a person with an addiction
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. someone who is addicted to alcohol and cannot stop drinking it.
n. a person suffering from alcoholism; an individual with a chronic dependency on alcoholic beverages.
日本語:アル中※
“He has been a recovering alcoholic for ten years and hasn't had a drink since.”
“The support group provides a safe environment for recovering alcoholics to share their experiences and maintain their sobriety.”
Teaching tip
While 'alcoholic' is a standard term, in modern medical contexts, phrases like 'person with alcohol use disorder' are often preferred to avoid labeling the individual by their condition.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “alcoholic” in context.
Verb
01. alcoholic content varies
“The alcoholic content varies significantly between different brands of cider.”
adj + noun + verb
02. consume alcoholic
“It is illegal to consume alcoholic beverages in this public park.”
verb + adj
03. serve alcoholic
“The restaurant is only licensed to serve alcoholic drinks with meals.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. highly alcoholic
“Be careful with this punch; it is highly alcoholic.”
adv + adj
05. non-alcoholic
“The bar serves a wide variety of non-alcoholic cocktails.”
adj + adj
Noun
06. alcoholic beverage
“The price of the ticket includes one free alcoholic beverage.”
adj + noun
07. alcoholic drink
“Would you like an alcoholic drink or something soft?”
adj + noun
08. alcoholic fermentation
“Yeast is essential for the process of alcoholic fermentation.”
adj + noun
09. alcoholic parent
“He wrote a book about his experience growing up with an alcoholic parent.”
adj + noun
10. avoid alcoholic drinks
“You should avoid alcoholic drinks while taking this medication.”
11. heavy alcoholic consumption
“Long-term heavy alcoholic consumption can lead to liver damage.”
12. low alcoholic content
“This beer is popular because of its low alcoholic content.”
Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/alcoholic
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0