alcohol
C1Neutral to Formal (in the chemical sense); Neutral to Informal (in the beverage sense).
Definition
Meaning
A colourless, volatile liquid present in drinks such as beer, wine, and spirits, produced by fermentation, which causes intoxication when consumed.
1. Any organic compound containing a hydroxyl (-OH) group bonded to a carbon atom, a class used in chemistry and industry. 2. The intoxicating ingredient itself as a substance. 3. (Figuratively) Denoting social drinking culture or the influence of such drinks.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a dual meaning: its everyday use relates to drinks and intoxication, while its scientific use is precise and technical. In social contexts, it often functions as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'He doesn't drink alcohol').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'alcohol' identically for the substance and the chemical class. Minor differences exist in related vocabulary (e.g., 'off-licence' vs. 'liquor store').
Connotations
Slightly more formal or clinical in UK English when referring to beverages ('alcohol consumption'). US English may use 'liquor' or 'booze' more readily in informal contexts.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NOUN + VERB: Alcohol affects judgement.VERB + NOUN: to consume/drink/abuse alcoholADJECTIVE + NOUN: excessive alcoholNOUN + of + NOUN: the effects of alcoholVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “under the influence (of alcohol)”
- “the demon drink”
- “Dutch courage”
- “on the wagon (abstaining)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referenced in hospitality, licensing, retail, and marketing (e.g., 'alcohol sales regulations').
Academic
Used in chemistry ('primary alcohol'), medicine ('alcohol poisoning'), social sciences ('alcohol policy').
Everyday
Common in social and health contexts (e.g., 'I'm cutting down on alcohol').
Technical
Specific to organic chemistry denoting compounds like methanol, isopropyl alcohol.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Alcoholised (rare/archaic, meaning to treat with alcohol).
American English
- Alcoholized (rare/archaic).
adverb
British English
- Alcoholically (extremely rare).
American English
- Alcoholically (extremely rare).
adjective
British English
- Alcoholic (e.g., alcoholic beverage).
American English
- Alcoholic (e.g., alcoholic drink).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The beer has alcohol in it.
- She does not like alcohol.
- The law prohibits selling alcohol to minors.
- Drinking too much alcohol is bad for your health.
- The new policy aims to reduce alcohol-related harm in the city centre.
- This wine has a relatively high alcohol content of 14%.
- The study correlated moderate alcohol consumption with a slight decrease in cardiovascular risk, though causation remains debated.
- Isopropyl alcohol is a common solvent in laboratory settings.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HOLe in your pocket after spending too much on ALCOHOL at the bar.
Conceptual Metaphor
ALCOHOL IS A FUEL (burning sensation, 'firewater'), ALCOHOL IS A CLEANSER (rubbing alcohol), ALCOHOL IS A SOCIAL LUBRICANT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian 'алкоголь' is a direct cognate, but Russian often uses 'спирт' (spirit) for pure ethanol. Avoid translating 'strong alcohol' as 'сильный алкоголь'; use 'крепкий алкоголь'. In Russian, 'alcohol' as a class of chemicals is less commonly referenced in everyday speech compared to English.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'an alcohol' for a drink). Incorrect: 'I had three alcohols.' Correct: 'I had three alcoholic drinks.' Confusing 'alcohol' (general) with specific drink names ('whisky', 'beer').
Practice
Quiz
In an organic chemistry context, 'alcohol' refers specifically to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring to the substance or the class of drinks, it is generally uncountable. You cannot say 'an alcohol' for a drink. You can count 'alcoholic drinks' or 'types of alcohol'.
In everyday language, 'alcohol' often means 'ethanol' specifically. In chemistry, 'alcohol' is a broad class of organic compounds, and ethanol is just one member of that class (ethyl alcohol).
Yes. 'Rubbing alcohol' (isopropyl alcohol) is used as a disinfectant. 'Denatured alcohol' is ethanol made undrinkable for industrial use.
It typically means the product contains no ethanol, or a negligible amount (often legally defined as less than 0.05% or 0.5% ABV, depending on jurisdiction).