alcoholic
gb/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/ us/ˌælkəhˈɑlɪk/
B1
English
~ 6400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
person addicted to alcohol
A person who cannot control how much alcohol they drink and has a strong need to drink.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (an) alcoholic
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.
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.)
Collocations
a recovering alcoholic
|a functioning alcoholic
|chronic alcoholic
|help an alcoholic
|treat an alcoholic
|alcoholic parent
Themes
health
|addiction
|daily life
Examples
- Her father was an alcoholic, so alcohol was never allowed in the house.
- He finally admitted he was an alcoholic and checked into a treatment center.
- 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.
- She stopped drinking when she realized she was an alcoholic.
- The group gives support to alcoholics.
- His mother is a recovering alcoholic.
- They started a charity to help alcoholics find treatment.
unknown
B1
property
2
containing alcohol for drinking
Containing alcohol that people drink, like beer, wine, or cocktails.
Usage pattern:
[someone] drink[s] an alcoholic [drink]
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.
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.)
Collocations
alcoholic drink
|alcoholic beverage
|alcoholic cocktail
|alcoholic punch
|alcoholic cider
|non-alcoholic and alcoholic options
Themes
food and drink
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- They served both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the wedding.
- This bar only sells alcoholic beverages to people over eighteen.
- 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.
- She ordered an alcoholic cocktail with dinner.
- 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.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
caused by long-term alcohol use
Caused by drinking too much alcohol for a long time, especially in medical conditions.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has alcoholic [condition]
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.
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.)
Collocations
alcoholic liver disease
|alcoholic cardiomyopathy
|alcoholic neuropathy
|alcoholic hepatitis
|alcoholic cirrhosis
Themes
health
|medicine
|addiction
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease after years of heavy drinking.
- Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition linked to long-term alcohol abuse.
- 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.
- Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious medical problem.
- 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.
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.