# corned

/kˈɔːnd/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/corned
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

very drunk after drinking too much alcohol. An old slang word you mostly meet in jokes or old stories.

For teachers: heavily intoxicated through alcohol. Dated in current use, surviving mainly in humorous or literary contexts.

## Examples

- He gets corned after three strong beers.
- After the wedding reception my uncle is completely corned and sings loudly at the table.
- The old novel describes sailors coming ashore corned on cheap rum and stumbling between dockside taverns until dawn.

## Usage notes

- Typically used predicatively after 'be' or 'get'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.