noun
Common
Gibson
GIHB-suhn
Gibson (noun) means a cocktail made from gin (or sometimes vodka) and dry vermouth, garnished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive. Example: “He ordered a gibson, extra cold, with two onions.”
noun
1
A cocktail made from gin (or sometimes vodka) and dry vermouth, garnished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive.
"He ordered a gibson, extra cold, with two onions."
"A gibson looks almost identical to a martini until you spot the onion at the bottom of the glass."
2
An acoustic or electric guitar made by the Gibson company.
"She saved for two years to buy her first gibson."
"The collection included a rare 1959 gibson worth more than his car."
How to use Gibson
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a gin-and-vermouth cocktail with an onion garnish, or a guitar made by the well-known Gibson brand.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the cocktail with a standard martini — the giveaway is the cocktail onion instead of an olive or twist.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
order a gibson
a Gibson guitar
shaken gibson
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Word forms
- Plural
- Gibsons
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He ordered a _____, extra cold, with two onions.
Etymology
Formed from Gibb and -son.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Gibson” mean?
The word “Gibson” means a cocktail made from gin (or sometimes vodka) and dry vermouth, garnished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive. In plain terms, either a gin-and-vermouth cocktail with an onion garnish, or a guitar made by the well-known Gibson brand.
How do you pronounce “Gibson”?
“Gibson” is pronounced GIHB-suhn (/ˈɡɪbsən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Gibson” in a sentence?
Here is “Gibson” used in a sentence: “He ordered a gibson, extra cold, with two onions.”
What part of speech is “Gibson”?
“Gibson” is a noun.
Is “Gibson” a common word?
“Gibson” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Gibson” have?
“Gibson” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cocktail made from gin (or sometimes vodka) and dry vermouth, garnished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive.
What is the difference between a Gibson and a martini?
A Gibson is essentially a martini garnished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive or lemon twist. Both are made from gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth, so the onion is the defining difference.
What garnish is used in a Gibson cocktail?
A Gibson is traditionally garnished with a pickled cocktail onion. This onion garnish is what distinguishes it from a classic martini's olive or lemon twist.
What is the difference between a Gibson cocktail and a Gibson guitar?
The two are unrelated meanings of the same word. A 'Gibson' can be a gin-and-vermouth cocktail garnished with a pickled onion, or an acoustic or electric guitar made by the Gibson company.
Is a Gibson made with gin or vodka?
A Gibson is traditionally made with gin and dry vermouth. It is sometimes made with vodka instead, but the pickled onion garnish remains the same.
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