rum
18 synonyms and 0 antonyms for rum, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use rum
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
First recorded around the mid-1600s; the exact origin is debated, with theories tracing it to Caribbean slang words like "rumbullion."
Full origin of rum →Frequently asked questions
What does “rum” mean?
The word “rum” means a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. In plain terms, most commonly the sugarcane-based spirit; the "odd/strange" sense is old-fashioned British slang, rarely used now.
How do you pronounce “rum”?
“Rum” is pronounced ruhm (/ɹʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “rum” in a sentence?
Here is “rum” used in a sentence: “They mixed rum with pineapple juice for the cocktail.”
What is another word for “rum”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rum” include rumbullion, rumbustion, kill-devil, Nelson's blood, strange fish and deviant.
What part of speech is “rum”?
Depending on how it is used, “rum” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “rum” come from?
The word “rum” dates back to around 1600. First recorded around the mid-1600s; the exact origin is debated, with theories tracing it to Caribbean slang words like "rumbullion.".
Is “rum” a common word?
“Rum” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rum” have?
“Rum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses.
What is the difference between rum as a drink and rum as an adjective?
As a noun, rum refers to a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. As an adjective, rum is an informal British word meaning odd or peculiar, and the two uses are unrelated in meaning despite sharing the same spelling.
Is calling something 'rum' still used in modern British English?
The adjective use of rum, meaning odd or peculiar, is chiefly British and somewhat old-fashioned, so it is heard more in older or informal speech than in everyday modern conversation. Phrases like 'a rum business' or 'a rum affair' still appear in British writing with a slightly dated, colloquial tone.
What is rum typically made from?
Rum is distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses, which are byproducts of sugar production. This distinguishes it from spirits like whiskey or vodka, which are distilled from grains or potatoes rather than sugarcane.