whisky: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “whisky” mean?
A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from fermented grain mash, typically aged in wooden casks.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from fermented grain mash, typically aged in wooden casks.
A serving or type of this spirit; also refers to the broader culture and industry surrounding its production and consumption.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'whisky' is the standard spelling for the spirit, particularly Scotch. In American English, 'whiskey' (with an 'e') is the dominant spelling for American and Irish varieties, though 'whisky' is sometimes used for Scotch or Canadian products.
Connotations
In the UK, 'whisky' strongly connotes Scotch whisky, a point of national pride. In the US, 'whiskey' connotes bourbon, rye, or Tennessee whiskey.
Frequency
The word is high-frequency in both varieties within relevant contexts (social, culinary, commercial).
Grammar
How to Use “whisky” in a Sentence
drink [whisky]pour [someone] [a whisky]age [whisky] in [oak casks]distil [whisky from [malted barley]]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whisky” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to whisky away their troubles (rare, informal).
- The barrel was used to whisky the spirit.
American English
- He whiskeyed his coffee (informal).
- They whiskeyed up before the show (slang).
adjective
British English
- He had a whisky-reddened face.
- The room had a whisky-barrel table.
American English
- She loved the whiskey-sour cocktail.
- It was a whiskey-soaked evening.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a major global export commodity, with terms like 'whisky stocks', 'export volumes', and 'distillery investment'.
Academic
Studied in fields like history (e.g., Prohibition), economics (trade tariffs), and chemistry (distillation processes).
Everyday
Common in social settings: 'Would you like a whisky?', 'Let's have a whisky after dinner.'
Technical
In distilling: 'mash bill', 'angel's share', 'cask strength', 'peat reek'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whisky”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “whisky”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whisky”
- Misspelling (whisky/whiskey) in the wrong geographical context.
- Using 'a whisky' as always uncountable (incorrect: 'I'll have a whisky' is correct).
- Confusing 'whisky' with 'whiskey' regarding product origin.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The spelling. 'Whisky' is used for Scotch, Canadian, and Japanese varieties. 'Whiskey' is used for Irish and American varieties (like bourbon and rye).
No. While Scotch single malt is made from malted barley, whisky can be made from various grains including corn (bourbon), rye (rye whiskey), and wheat.
Very rarely and informally. It is not standard usage. Examples like 'to whisky something up' are considered slang or nonce formations.
It means the whisky is the product of a single distillery and made from 100% malted barley. It is not blended with whisky from other distilleries or with grain whisky.
A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from fermented grain mash, typically aged in wooden casks.
Whisky is usually neutral in register.
Whisky: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪski/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɪski/ (also /ˈhwɪski/ in some conservative dialects). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “whisky for my men, beer for my horses”
- “whisky nose (informal, for rhinophyma)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Whisky is the key to remembering Scotland's spelling: Scotland has no 'e', therefore Scotch is 'whisk-y'. Ireland and America have an 'e', so it's 'whisk-e-y'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A FLAVOURING AGENT (e.g., 'aged for 12 years', 'the years in the cask mellowed it').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the spelling 'whisky' most strongly preferred?