alcoholism
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a disease where someone is addicted to alcohol and cannot control how much they drink.
a chronic disorder involving a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, often resulting in health and social deterioration.
Simple“He sought help from a support group to recover from his alcoholism.”
In context“The clinic specialises in treating alcoholism through a combination of medical detoxification and long-term psychological support.”
UsageThis noun is uncountable and does not take a plural form.
Teacher's tipWhile 'alcoholism' is the standard term, modern medical contexts often prefer 'alcohol use disorder' (AUD) for a more clinical description.
Synonymsalcohol addictionalcohol dependenceAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
a dangerous condition caused by drinking too much alcohol in a very short time.
the physiological state of acute alcohol poisoning resulting from excessive intake over a short duration.
Simple“The student was rushed to the hospital suffering from acute alcoholism after the party.”
In context“The emergency room physician noted that the patient's symptoms were consistent with acute alcoholism rather than a chronic condition.”
UsageUsually appears with the adjective 'acute' to distinguish it from the chronic disease.
Teacher's tipThis sense is rare in everyday English; most people use 'alcohol poisoning' for this specific situation.
Synonymsalcohol poisoningintoxication
From alcohol + -ism. Derived from New Latin alcoholismus chronicus, coined by the Swedish professor of medicine Magnus Huss in 1849.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.