whiskey
7 synonyms for whiskey, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from fermented grain and usually aged in wooden barrels.
Synonyms
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.
whisky
How to use whiskey
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
whiskey on the rocks
a shot of whiskey
Etymology
From Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha, literally "water of life" — the same phrase that also gave French its word eau-de-vie.
Full origin of whiskey →Frequently asked questions
What does “whiskey” mean?
The word “whiskey” means a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from fermented grain and usually aged in wooden barrels. In plain terms, a distilled alcoholic drink made from grain, aged in barrels.
How do you pronounce “whiskey”?
“Whiskey” is pronounced WIHS-kee (/ˈwɪski/ in IPA).
How do you use “whiskey” in a sentence?
Here is “whiskey” used in a sentence: “He poured himself a glass of whiskey after the long day.”
What part of speech is “whiskey”?
“Whiskey” is a noun.
Where does the word “whiskey” come from?
The word “whiskey” comes from French. From Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha, literally "water of life" — the same phrase that also gave French its word eau-de-vie.
Is “whiskey” a common word?
“Whiskey” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between whiskey and whisky?
Whiskey (with an e) is the spelling used in the United States and Ireland, while whisky (without the e) is used in Scotland, Canada, and Japan. Both words refer to the same category of strong alcoholic spirit distilled from fermented grain and aged in wooden barrels.
Is whiskey the same as bourbon?
No, bourbon is a specific type of whiskey. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon, since bourbon must meet particular production rules such as being made mainly from corn and aged in new charred oak barrels.
Does whiskey need to be aged in oak barrels?
Yes, whiskey is traditionally aged in wooden barrels, which give it much of its color and flavor. The length and type of barrel aging vary by style, but wood aging is a defining part of how whiskey is made.
