English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

Gatorade

GAY-tuh-rayd

Gatorade (noun) means a brand-name sports drink designed to replace fluids, sugar, and salts lost through sweat during exercise. Example: “The coach handed out cups of Gatorade at halftime.”

noun
1
A brand-name sports drink designed to replace fluids, sugar, and salts lost through sweat during exercise.
"The coach handed out cups of Gatorade at halftime."
"He grabbed a bottle of Gatorade after his run."
2
Loosely, any similar electrolyte sports drink.
"The gym had a cooler stocked with Gatorade and other sports drinks."

How to use Gatorade

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA well-known brand of sports drink, often used as shorthand for any electrolyte drink.

Common mistake

Technically a trademark, but often used generically for any similar drink, much like "Kleenex" for tissues.

Common pairings
a bottle of Gatorade a Gatorade shower

Word forms

Gatoraded past tense, Gatorades plural, Gatorades singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Gatorade” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The coach handed out cups of _____ at halftime.

Etymology

Named for the University of Florida "Gators", whose football team the drink was originally developed for in 1965.

· First attested 1965

Class of 1965 Gatorade joined the language around 1965.
See the full Class of 1965 →

Rhymes for Gatorade

See all rhymes for Gatorade →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Gatorade” mean?

The word “Gatorade” means a brand-name sports drink designed to replace fluids, sugar, and salts lost through sweat during exercise. In plain terms, a well-known brand of sports drink, often used as shorthand for any electrolyte drink.

How do you pronounce “Gatorade”?

“Gatorade” is pronounced GAY-tuh-rayd (/ˈɡeɪtəɹeɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “Gatorade” in a sentence?

Here is “Gatorade” used in a sentence: “The coach handed out cups of Gatorade at halftime.”

What part of speech is “Gatorade”?

“Gatorade” is a noun.

Where does the word “Gatorade” come from?

The word “Gatorade” dates back to around 1965. Named for the University of Florida "Gators", whose football team the drink was originally developed for in 1965.

How many meanings does “Gatorade” have?

“Gatorade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a brand-name sports drink designed to replace fluids, sugar, and salts lost through sweat during exercise.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial