alcoholic
al-kuh-HOL-ihk
Alcoholic (noun) means a person who is addicted to alcohol. Example: “Her father was an alcoholic, and she grew up learning how addiction affects a family.”
noun
1
A person who is addicted to alcohol.
"Her father was an alcoholic, and she grew up learning how addiction affects a family."
"The clinic offers free counselling to any alcoholic who wants to stop drinking."
"Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic who still resists the idea that something drastic needs to happen for him to turn his life around."
— Joris Luyendijk, Our banks are out of control (2013)
"He's been a recovering alcoholic for six years."
adj
1
Containing alcohol, or relating to alcohol.
"Please do not bring any alcoholic drinks into the park this weekend."
"The shop sells a wide range of alcoholic beverages, from beer to whisky."
"The bar offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails."
How to use alcoholic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes drinks containing alcohol, or a person addicted to alcohol.
When to use it
Calling a person "an alcoholic" is a clinical/everyday term for alcohol addiction, not a casual insult — use it carefully.
Common pairings
alcoholic beverage
recovering alcoholic
alcoholic drink
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Word forms
- Plural
- alcoholics
- Comparative
- more alcoholic
- Superlative
- most alcoholic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her father was an _____, and she grew up learning how addiction affects a family.
Etymology
From "alcohol" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ic"; first recorded in English in 1891.
Class of 1891
alcoholic joined the language around 1891.
See the full Class of 1891 →
Synonyms
View more →
drunkard
dipsomaniac
boozer
tippler
heavy drinker
problem drinker
alky
distilled
fermented
inebriate
intoxicating
spirituous
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for alcoholic
colic
frolic
anabolic
Catholic
systolic
symbolic
apostolic
metabolic
parabolic
workaholic
melancholic
See all rhymes for alcoholic →
Frequently asked questions
What does “alcoholic” mean?
The word “alcoholic” means a person who is addicted to alcohol. In plain terms, describes drinks containing alcohol, or a person addicted to alcohol.
How do you pronounce “alcoholic”?
“Alcoholic” is pronounced al-kuh-HOL-ihk (/ˌæl.kəˈhɔ.lɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “alcoholic” in a sentence?
Here is “alcoholic” used in a sentence: “He's been a recovering alcoholic for six years.”
What is another word for “alcoholic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “alcoholic” include distilled, fermented, inebriate, intoxicating and spirituous.
What is the opposite of “alcoholic”?
The opposite of “alcoholic” — its antonyms — are teetotaler, on the wagon, nonalcoholic, alcohol-free and virgin.
What part of speech is “alcoholic”?
Depending on how it is used, “alcoholic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “alcoholic” come from?
The word “alcoholic” dates back to around 1891. From "alcohol" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ic"; first recorded in English in 1891.
Is “alcoholic” a common word?
“Alcoholic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between the noun and adjective senses of "alcoholic"?
As a noun, "alcoholic" means a person who is addicted to alcohol. As an adjective, it describes something that contains alcohol or relates to alcohol, as in "an alcoholic drink."
What is the difference between an alcoholic drink and a non-alcoholic drink?
An alcoholic drink contains alcohol, while a non-alcoholic one does not. Drinks labelled "alcohol-free" or "virgin" are made without alcohol.
What is the difference between an "alcoholic" and a "heavy drinker"?
An alcoholic is dependent on or addicted to alcohol, whereas a heavy drinker consumes a large amount but is not necessarily addicted. The key distinction is dependence rather than quantity alone.
Is it respectful to call someone an "alcoholic"?
The word is widely used, but many people now prefer person-first language such as "a person with alcohol use disorder." In sensitive or clinical settings, the person-first phrasing is often considered more respectful.
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