al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯ-lik 
-ˈhä-
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
an alcoholic odor
b
: containing alcohol
an alcoholic beverage
2
: affected with alcoholism
: a person affected with alcoholism
Synonyms
Examples of alcoholic in a Sentence
Adjective
a slightly more alcoholic wine
She has an alcoholic uncle.
Noun
Her uncle is an alcoholic.
one can be a social drinker without turning into an alcoholic
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
In A Bit of Light, Paquin stars as an alcoholic mother who loses custody of her kids and has to rebuild her life while also finally confronting her past.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The study also found that binge drinking had a significant impact — women who drank more than three alcoholic drinks in a day were 68% more likely to get heart disease than those who didn't.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Women who drink eight or more alcoholic beverages a week are as much as 51% more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who have one or two drinks per week, according to a new study by Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
No outside alcohol or coolers -- only alcoholic beverages purchased from restaurants and bars within the Argenta Outdoor Dining District will be allowed.
—Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 27 Mar. 2024
The Volstead gets its name from the 1920 Volstead Act, better known as the National Prohibition Act, which outlawed selling and manufacturing alcoholic beverages in the U.S.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024
Stephens also faces charges for trying to escape and alcoholic beverages on the beach, according to online arrest records.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2024
However, state law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
Most people aren’t problem gamblers, just as most people can navigate a world of beer ads without becoming alcoholics.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
At the time, Washington was down on his luck and an alcoholic, and was living at Mizell’s sister’s house.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024
The veteran actor has faced many creative challenges over the years, though Dr. Webber’s arc as a recovering alcoholic hit especially close to home.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2024
An encounter with the shy young son of a town alcoholic the same day further stirs up Bill’s vulnerability.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024
Regarding the current behavior of the letter writer’s father-in-law, the whole family will need to get well — not just the alcoholic.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Newsom’s Proposition 1— a proposal to pump more money into treating homeless people who are mentally ill, drug addicted or alcoholics — may finally pass after vote counting is completed.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
In the same way an alcoholic can’t drink enough liquor, Lopez can’t have enough followers.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024
Adjective
But some public spaces, such as Loose Park in Kansas City, prohibit alcoholic beverages on public property.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
In A Bit of Light, Paquin stars as an alcoholic mother who loses custody of her kids and has to rebuild her life while also finally confronting her past.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The study also found that binge drinking had a significant impact — women who drank more than three alcoholic drinks in a day were 68% more likely to get heart disease than those who didn't.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Women who drink eight or more alcoholic beverages a week are as much as 51% more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who have one or two drinks per week, according to a new study by Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
No outside alcohol or coolers -- only alcoholic beverages purchased from restaurants and bars within the Argenta Outdoor Dining District will be allowed.
—Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 27 Mar. 2024
The Volstead gets its name from the 1920 Volstead Act, better known as the National Prohibition Act, which outlawed selling and manufacturing alcoholic beverages in the U.S.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024
Stephens also faces charges for trying to escape and alcoholic beverages on the beach, according to online arrest records.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2024
However, state law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Noun
Patrick Casey Richard Joseph Paul played Patrick, a movie composer and a recovering alcoholic.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
Most people aren’t problem gamblers, just as most people can navigate a world of beer ads without becoming alcoholics.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
At the time, Washington was down on his luck and an alcoholic, and was living at Mizell’s sister’s house.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024
The veteran actor has faced many creative challenges over the years, though Dr. Webber’s arc as a recovering alcoholic hit especially close to home.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2024
An encounter with the shy young son of a town alcoholic the same day further stirs up Bill’s vulnerability.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024
Regarding the current behavior of the letter writer’s father-in-law, the whole family will need to get well — not just the alcoholic.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Newsom’s Proposition 1— a proposal to pump more money into treating homeless people who are mentally ill, drug addicted or alcoholics — may finally pass after vote counting is completed.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
In the same way an alcoholic can’t drink enough liquor, Lopez can’t have enough followers.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alcoholic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near alcoholic
Cite this Entry
“Alcoholic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcoholic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alcoholic
1 of 2 adjective
al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik
-ˈhäl-
1
: of, relating to, or containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholic
2 of 2 noun
: a person affected with alcoholism
Medical Definition
alcoholic
1 of 2 adjective
al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik, -ˈhäl-
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
alcoholic hepatitis
b
: containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholic
2 of 2 noun
: one affected with alcoholism
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