alcoholic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to formal; the noun is a clinical and social term, the adjective is descriptive.
Quick answer
What does “alcoholic” mean?
A person who suffers from a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, characterized by an inability to control drinking despite negative consequences.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who suffers from a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, characterized by an inability to control drinking despite negative consequences.
An adjective describing something that contains alcohol or is related to or caused by alcohol (e.g., alcoholic drink, alcoholic content). It can also refer to someone who habitually drinks alcohol to excess but may not meet clinical criteria for dependence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the noun and adjective identically in standard contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is standard in medical and everyday contexts. Informal/derogatory synonyms may vary.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “alcoholic” in a Sentence
[Person] is/was an alcoholic.[Substance] is alcoholic.alcoholic [Noun] (e.g., father, drink, problem)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alcoholic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'alcoholic' is not a verb. Use 'to drink (alcohol) heavily'.
- He alcoholiced his way through university. (Non-standard/rare, poetic use)
American English
- N/A - 'alcoholic' is not a verb. Use 'to abuse alcohol'.
- The character alcoholics himself into oblivion. (Non-standard/rare, poetic use)
adverb
British English
- N/A - No standard adverb form. Use 'alcoholically', though rare.
- He smiled alcoholically. (Literary, meaning 'in a drink-influenced manner')
American English
- N/A - No standard adverb form. Use 'drunkenly'.
- She laughed, a bit alcoholically. (Literary, meaning 'in a drink-influenced manner')
adjective
British English
- She prefers non-alcoholic cocktails at parties.
- The pub was fined for serving alcoholic drinks to minors.
American English
- This kombucha has a naturally low alcoholic content.
- He was diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the beverage industry or workplace policies (e.g., 'alcoholic products liability').
Academic
Used in medical, psychological, and sociological research on addiction.
Everyday
Commonly used to describe a person with a drinking problem or a drink containing alcohol.
Technical
Clinical diagnosis: 'Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)' is the preferred DSM-5 term, though 'alcoholic' is still widely used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alcoholic”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alcoholic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alcoholic”
- Incorrect: 'He is alcoholist.' Correct: 'He is an alcoholic.'
- Incorrect: 'This drink is alcohol.' Correct: 'This drink is alcoholic.' or 'This drink contains alcohol.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the standard, relatively neutral term. However, many prefer person-first language like 'person with alcohol use disorder' to reduce stigma, especially in clinical settings.
Yes, for any drink containing ethanol (alcohol). For drinks with no alcohol, use 'non-alcoholic' or 'alcohol-free'.
A 'heavy drinker' consumes large amounts regularly but may not be physically dependent. An 'alcoholic' (clinically, someone with AUD) has a compulsion to drink, loss of control, and continues despite harm.
No, 'alcoholist' is not standard English. It is a common error from direct translation in some languages. The correct term is 'alcoholic'.
A person who suffers from a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, characterized by an inability to control drinking despite negative consequences.
Alcoholic is usually neutral to formal; the noun is a clinical and social term, the adjective is descriptive. in register.
Alcoholic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌalkəˈhɒlɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌælkəˈhɑːlɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's on the wagon (not drinking).”
- “She fell off the wagon (relapsed).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ALCOHOL makes me sick' -> ALCOHOLic. The '-ic' ending often means 'related to' or 'suffering from'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADDICTION IS A DISEASE / ADDICTION IS A TRAP / ALCOHOL IS A DEMON (in more expressive language).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate and neutral term in a medical context?