noun
Common
Alexander
alihg-ZAHN-duh
Alexander (noun) means a cocktail made with brandy or gin, crème de cacao, and cream. Example: “She ordered a brandy Alexander after dinner.”
noun
1
A cocktail made with brandy or gin, crème de cacao, and cream.
"Alexander Cocktail 1/3 Creme de Cocoa 1/3 Gin 1/3 Sweet Cream"
— Julien Proskauer, What'll You Have ?: A Not Too Dry Text Book about Cocktails (1933)
"Alexander cocktail 3/4 jigger rye whiskey. 1/4 jigger Benedictine. Twist orange peel on top. Stir."
— Jacques Straub, Drinks (1914)
"She ordered a brandy Alexander after dinner."
name
1
A male given name of Ancient Greek origin, most famously borne by Alexander the Great.
""My son's name is Alexander," Muriel said. "Did I tell you that? I named him Alexander because it sounded high-class."
— Anne Tyler, The Accidental Tourist (1985)
"Alexander conquered much of the known world by age thirty."
How to use Alexander
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic male first name meaning "defender of men," shared by kings, saints, and a creamy after-dinner cocktail.
Common pairings
Alexander the Great
brandy Alexander
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Word forms
- Plural
- Alexanders
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She ordered a brandy _____ after dinner.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek Alexandros, "defender of men," from alexo ("to defend") + aner ("man").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Alexander
See all rhymes for Alexander →Frequently asked questions
What does “Alexander” mean?
The word “Alexander” means a male given name of Ancient Greek origin, most famously borne by Alexander the Great. In plain terms, a classic male first name meaning "defender of men," shared by kings, saints, and a creamy after-dinner cocktail.
How do you pronounce “Alexander”?
“Alexander” is pronounced alihg-ZAHN-duh (/ˌælɪɡˈzændɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Alexander” in a sentence?
Here is “Alexander” used in a sentence: “Alexander conquered much of the known world by age thirty.”
What part of speech is “Alexander”?
Depending on how it is used, “Alexander” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Alexander” come from?
The word “Alexander” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek Alexandros, "defender of men," from alexo ("to defend") + aner ("man").
Is “Alexander” a common word?
“Alexander” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Alexander” have?
“Alexander” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male given name of Ancient Greek origin, most famously borne by Alexander the Great.
What does the name Alexander mean?
Alexander means 'defender of the people' or 'protector of men'. It comes from the Ancient Greek 'Alexandros', combining 'alexein', to defend, with 'aner', meaning man. This strong, protective meaning is one reason the name has stayed popular across many cultures and centuries.
What are common nicknames for Alexander?
Popular short forms include Alex, Al, Alec, Xander, and Sander. 'Sasha' is a common affectionate form in Russian and other Slavic languages. These nicknames let the same formal name feel either traditional or casual, which adds to its wide and lasting appeal.
Where does the name Alexander come from?
Alexander is of Ancient Greek origin, from 'Alexandros'. Its fame spread through Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king who built one of history's largest empires. From there the name passed into many languages and royal families, producing local forms such as Alejandro, Alessandro, and Aleksandr.
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