liquor
B2Neutral to formal; in everyday conversation, words like 'spirits', 'booze', or specific names (whisky) are more common.
Definition
Meaning
An alcoholic drink, especially one that is distilled (like whisky, gin, or vodka) rather than fermented (like wine or beer).
In specialized contexts, can also refer to a liquid produced in or used for an industrial or cooking process (e.g., meat liquor from cooking).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun. In North America, 'liquor' is the standard legal term for distilled spirits. In the UK, 'spirits' is the more standard retail/commercial term, though 'liquor' is understood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'spirits' is the more common term for distilled alcohol in retail contexts (e.g., spirits aisle). In American English, 'liquor' is the dominant term (e.g., liquor store).
Connotations
In AmE, it has a strong legal/commercial connotation (liquor license, liquor laws). In BrE, it can sound slightly old-fashioned or legalistic in this sense.
Frequency
The word is more frequent in American English due to its use in legal and commercial domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of liquor (a bottle of liquor)V + liquor (to drink/sell liquor)ADJ + liquor (hard/strong liquor)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Under the influence of liquor.”
- “He's in liquor (archaic = drunk).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the industry and retail of distilled spirits (e.g., 'liquor sales', 'liquor distributor').
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or sociological studies on prohibition or substance use.
Everyday
Used, but less frequently than specific drink names. 'I need to pick up some liquor for the party.'
Technical
In cooking/chemistry, can mean a liquid produced by cooking or a specific solution (e.g., 'printing liquor').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/archaic) He was liquored up and causing a scene.
American English
- (Rare/archaic) They liquored him up before the interview.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He does not drink liquor.
- The shop sells beer and liquor.
- In some states, you can't buy liquor on Sundays.
- She prefers wine to hard liquor.
- The new law tightened restrictions on liquor advertising.
- He invested in a small craft liquor distillery.
- The provenance of the liquor was dubious, likely originating from an illicit still.
- Societal attitudes towards liquor consumption have oscillated throughout history.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LIQUOR STORE – it sells strong LIQUid that makes you act quirkier.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUOR IS A STRONG/RAW SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'hard liquor', 'neat liquor').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'liquor' as 'ликёр'. Russian 'ликёр' is a sweet, flavored liqueur, not the general category of spirits.
- Do not confuse with 'liquid' ('жидкость').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'liquor' to refer to beer or wine (it's specifically for distilled spirits).
- Misspelling as 'liquer' (which is the French/spelling for liqueur).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically considered a 'liquor'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Liquor' is a general term for distilled spirits. 'Liqueur' is a sweet, flavored spirit often drunk after a meal (e.g., Baileys, Amaretto).
No, not correctly. In strict usage, it excludes beer and wine. However, in some legal contexts (like 'driving under the influence of liquor'), it may be defined to include all alcohol.
It is standard but has a legal/commercial tone. In casual conversation, people often say 'spirits' (UK) or use specific names ('whiskey', 'rum').
An 'off-licence' (or 'offie' informally). The term 'liquor store' is understood but not the standard name.