dipsomaniac: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, medical, historical
Quick answer
What does “dipsomaniac” mean?
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcohol.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcohol.
A historical and clinical term for an individual suffering from dipsomania, characterized by periodic and compulsive bouts of excessive drinking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage.
Connotations
Connotes a clinical, almost archaic diagnosis in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both the UK and US; more likely found in older literary, medical, or historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “dipsomaniac” in a Sentence
[Article/possessive] + dipsomaniac + [prepositional phrase, e.g., 'for brandy']Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dipsomaniac” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He displayed dipsomaniac urges during the holiday.
American English
- His dipsomaniac behavior became a family concern.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Found in historical, medical, or psychological texts discussing alcoholism.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'alcoholic' is the standard term.
Technical
Used in outdated psychiatric classifications (e.g., ICD-9) for episodic excessive drinking.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dipsomaniac”
- Misspelling as 'dipso-maniac' (with a hyphen) or 'dipsomatic'.
- Using it as a synonym for any casual drinker.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal term that is largely outdated in modern clinical and everyday use.
While both refer to problem drinking, 'dipsomaniac' specifically suggests severe, intermittent bouts of craving and consumption, whereas 'alcoholic' is a broader, more common term for chronic alcohol dependence.
Yes, though rare. It can be used attributively (e.g., 'dipsomaniac tendencies') to describe behaviour related to dipsomania.
From Greek 'dipsa' (thirst) + 'mania' (madness). It literally means 'madness for thirst'.
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcohol.
Dipsomaniac is usually formal, medical, historical in register.
Dipsomaniac: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪp.səʊˈmeɪ.ni.æk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪp.səˈmeɪ.ni.æk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone who constantly DIPS into the MANIACal drinking sprees.
Conceptual Metaphor
ALCOHOLISM IS A DEMON / ALCOHOL IS A TYRANT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'dipsomaniac'?