alcoholic
gb/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/ us/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/
B1
English
~ 6400
alkoholista, alkoholbeteg, alkoholfüggő, alkoholos, szeszes, alkohol okozta
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (an) alcoholic
Her father was an alcoholic, so alcohol was never allowed in the house.
Az apja alkoholista volt, ezért náluk otthon soha nem volt szabad alkoholt tartani.
He finally admitted he was an alcoholic and checked into a treatment center.
Végül beismerte, hogy alkoholista, és befeküdt egy kezelőintézetbe.
As a recovering alcoholic, she avoids going to bars and parties with heavy drinking.
The program offers counseling and housing support for homeless alcoholics.
Growing up with an alcoholic parent can have long-lasting emotional effects.
Learner examples
My uncle is an alcoholic and needs help.
A nagybátyám alkoholista, és segítségre van szüksége.
She stopped drinking when she realized she was an alcoholic.
Abbahagyta az ivást, amikor rájött, hogy alkoholista.
The group gives support to alcoholics.
His mother is a recovering alcoholic.
They started a charity to help alcoholics find treatment.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "alcoholic" always means "containing alcohol" and may say things like *"There were many alcoholics at the party"* when they mean *"There were many alcoholic drinks at the party."* Use the noun "alcoholic" only for a person who is addicted to alcohol, not for the drinks themselves.
Meaning
person addicted to alcohol
Collocations
a recovering alcoholic
|a functioning alcoholic
|chronic alcoholic
|help an alcoholic
|treat an alcoholic
|alcoholic parent
Synonyms
alcohol addict (More explicitly describes the addiction; slightly more clinical and less common in everyday speech.)
|
problem drinker (Softer and less medical; often used when someone has serious issues with alcohol but may not be formally diagnosed.)
|
drunkard (Old-fashioned and strongly negative; sounds insulting and is less used in modern neutral conversation.)
Antonyms
teetotaler (Refers to someone who chooses never to drink alcohol at all, which contrasts with being addicted to alcohol.)
|
social drinker (Describes someone who drinks alcohol only occasionally and in moderation, without addiction.)
Themes
health
|addiction
|daily life
Definition
A person who cannot control how much alcohol they drink and has a strong need to drink.
A person who is dependent on alcoholic drinks and has difficulty controlling their drinking.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] drink[s] an alcoholic [drink]
They served both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the wedding.
Az esküvőn alkoholos és alkoholmentes italokat is felszolgáltak.
This bar only sells alcoholic beverages to people over eighteen.
Ez a bár alkoholos italokat csak tizennyolc éven felülieknek ad el.
The punch tasted fruity, but it was actually quite alcoholic.
He prefers alcoholic cider to beer.
Is the dessert alcoholic, or can children eat it too?
Learner examples
I never drink alcoholic drinks.
Soha nem iszom alkoholos italokat.
She ordered an alcoholic cocktail with dinner.
Vacsorához alkoholos koktélt rendelt.
They do not sell alcoholic beverages in this shop.
Please bring some non-alcoholic and some alcoholic drinks.
This sauce is not alcoholic after you cook it.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"alcohol drink"* instead of the natural phrase *"alcoholic drink"* or *"alcoholic beverage"*. Use the adjective form "alcoholic" before "drink" or "beverage". Also, do not use this adjective to describe people; say *"He is an alcoholic"* (noun), not *"He is alcoholic"* in most everyday contexts.
Meaning
containing alcohol for drinking
Collocations
alcoholic drink
|alcoholic beverage
|alcoholic cocktail
|alcoholic punch
|alcoholic cider
|non-alcoholic and alcoholic options
Synonyms
alcohol-based (Often used more for products like hand gel or perfume; sounds slightly more technical than "alcoholic" for drinks.)
|
boozy (Informal and sometimes playful; can describe drinks, events, or atmospheres with a lot of alcohol.)
Antonyms
non-alcoholic (Direct opposite; describes drinks that do not contain any alcohol, or have almost none.)
Themes
food and drink
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
Containing alcohol that people drink, like beer, wine, or cocktails.
Describes a drink or liquid that contains alcohol, especially one meant for people to drink.
C1
TECHNICAL
3
alkoholos
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] has alcoholic [condition]
The patient was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease after years of heavy drinking.
A betegnél éveken át tartó túlzott alkoholfogyasztás után alkoholos májbetegséget diagnosztizáltak.
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition linked to long-term alcohol abuse.
Az alkoholos kardiomiopátia olyan szívizombetegség, amely a hosszú távú túlzott alkoholfogyasztással függ össze.
The clinic specializes in treating alcoholic neuropathy and other alcohol-related nerve disorders.
She developed alcoholic hepatitis in her thirties due to chronic alcoholism.
Public health campaigns warn young people about the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis.
Learner examples
He has alcoholic liver disease from drinking too much.
A túlzott alkoholfogyasztás miatt alkoholos májbetegsége van.
Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious medical problem.
Az alkoholos hepatitis súlyos egészségügyi probléma.
The doctor explained that his heart problem was alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Many alcoholic health problems can be stopped if the person quits drinking.
Researchers study alcoholic brain damage in long-term drinkers.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not notice that "alcoholic" before a medical noun means the condition is caused by alcohol. For example, *"alcoholic liver disease"* is not a liver disease that drinks alcohol, but a liver disease caused by alcohol use.
Meaning
caused by long-term alcohol use
Collocations
alcoholic liver disease
|alcoholic cardiomyopathy
|alcoholic neuropathy
|alcoholic hepatitis
|alcoholic cirrhosis
Synonyms
alcohol-related (Slightly broader and more general; can refer to any issue linked to alcohol, not only medical conditions.)
Antonyms
non-alcoholic (In medical contexts, often used in contrasts like "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" to show the condition is not caused by alcohol.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|addiction
Definition
Caused by drinking too much alcohol for a long time, especially in medical conditions.
Describes a disease, condition, or problem that is the result of long-term heavy drinking or alcohol dependence.
Grammar
Dictionary form
alcoholic
IPA
GB/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/
US/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/
Syllables & stress
al - co - hol - ic (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (hol)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: alcoholic
Noun
- Base: alcoholic
- Plural: alcoholics
Word family
Forms
alcoholics
noun
Core family
alcohol
noun A2
alcoholism
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
non-alcoholic
adjective
Expressions
alcoholic blackout
1/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk blˈækˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
memory loss after heavy drinking
A period of time that a person cannot remember because they drank a lot of alcohol, even though they were awake at the time.
Examples
- He experienced an alcoholic blackout and could not remember how he got home.
- Alcoholic blackouts are a warning sign of very dangerous drinking.
- She often had alcoholic blackouts during her twenties.
alcoholic drink
1/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk dɹˈɪŋk/
fixed phrase
drink that contains alcohol
A drink that has alcohol in it, like beer, wine, or a cocktail.
Examples
- They only serve alcoholic drinks after 6 p.m.
- Please bring some alcoholic drinks and some soft drinks to the party.
- He gave up alcoholic drinks for health reasons.
alcoholic liver disease
1/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk lˈɪvɚ dɪzˈiz/
fixed phrase
technical
liver disease from alcohol
Serious damage to the liver that happens because a person has drunk too much alcohol for many years.
Examples
- The doctor explained that his cirrhosis was part of alcoholic liver disease.
- Alcoholic liver disease can often be prevented by reducing alcohol intake.
- She was hospitalized with advanced alcoholic liver disease.
alcoholic parent
1/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk pˈɛɹənt/
fixed phrase
parent addicted to alcohol
A mother or father who is addicted to alcohol.
Examples
- Growing up with an alcoholic parent can be very stressful for children.
- Support groups help adults who had alcoholic parents in childhood.
- She rarely invited friends over because of her alcoholic parent.
chronic alcoholic
1/kɹˈɑnɪk ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/
fixed phrase
long-term alcoholic
A person who has had a serious alcohol addiction for many years.
Examples
- He was described in the report as a chronic alcoholic with severe health problems.
- The shelter offers medical care for chronic alcoholics living on the street.
- As a chronic alcoholic, she had already damaged her liver badly.
functioning alcoholic
1/fˈʌŋkʃənɪŋ ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/
fixed phrase
addicted drinker who still functions
A person who is addicted to alcohol but can still go to work, study, and appear normal in daily life.
Examples
- Many functioning alcoholics hide their drinking from colleagues and friends.
- He was a functioning alcoholic for years before anyone noticed he had a problem.
- Therapists say that functioning alcoholics often delay seeking help.
non-alcoholic drink
1/nˈɑn ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk dɹˈɪŋk/
fixed phrase
drink without alcohol
A drink that does not have alcohol in it, like water, juice, or soda.
Examples
- There are many non-alcoholic drinks on the menu for children.
- He drove home, so he only ordered non-alcoholic drinks.
- They offered free non-alcoholic drinks at the event.
recovering alcoholic
1/ɹɪkˈʌvɚɪŋ ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/
fixed phrase
person in recovery from alcoholism
A person who used to be addicted to alcohol and is now trying to stay sober and live without drinking.
Examples
- As a recovering alcoholic, she avoids situations where people drink heavily.
- He introduced himself at the meeting as a recovering alcoholic.
- The book tells the story of a recovering alcoholic rebuilding his life.
alcoholic beverage
1/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk bˈɛvɚɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
a drink containing alcohol
A drink that has alcohol in it, such as beer, wine, or spirits.
Examples
- The restaurant is not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21.
- He gave up alcoholic beverages for health reasons.
alcoholic beverage
2/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk bˈɛvɚɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
alcoholic drink (formal term)
A more formal way to say "alcoholic drink", often used in rules, signs, or laws.
Examples
- The sale of alcoholic beverages is not allowed after midnight.
- You must be at least eighteen to buy alcoholic beverages in this country.
- The restaurant is licensed to serve alcoholic beverages.
non-alcoholic beverage
1/nˈɑn ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk bˈɛvɚɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
a drink without alcohol
A drink that has no alcohol, such as water, juice, soda, tea, or coffee.
Examples
- All non-alcoholic beverages are included in the ticket price.
- They offer a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages for children and drivers.
non-alcoholic beverage
2/nˈɑn ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk bˈɛvɚɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
non-alcoholic drink (formal)
A more formal way to say "non-alcoholic drink", often used on menus or in rules.
Examples
- The hotel offers complimentary non-alcoholic beverages in the lobby.
- All non-alcoholic beverages are included in the price of the ticket.
- They import a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages.