Alcoholic: meaning, definitions and examples

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alcoholic

 

[ ˌalkəˈhɒlɪk ]

Noun / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

substance abuse

A person who is addicted to alcohol and has a strong desire to drink excessively.

Synonyms

alcohol addict, alcohol dependent, drunkard.

Examples of usage

  • He was struggling with his addiction and knew he needed help to overcome being an alcoholic.
  • She realized she was an alcoholic when she couldn't go a day without drinking.
  • The support group was filled with recovering alcoholics who shared their stories of struggle and triumph.
  • Many alcoholics find it difficult to admit they have a problem and seek help.
  • Being an alcoholic can have serious health consequences if not addressed.
Context #2 | Adjective

describing behavior

Relating to or resulting from alcoholism.

Synonyms

addictive, intemperate, problematic.

Examples of usage

  • Her alcoholic father's behavior had a negative impact on the family.
  • The alcoholic tendencies in his family made him cautious about drinking.

Translations

Translations of the word "alcoholic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 alcoólico

🇮🇳 शराबी

🇩🇪 alkoholisch

🇮🇩 alkoholik

🇺🇦 алкогольний

🇵🇱 alkoholowy

🇯🇵 アルコール性の

🇫🇷 alcoolique

🇪🇸 alcohólico

🇹🇷 alkolik

🇰🇷 알코올성의

🇸🇦 كحولي

🇨🇿 alkoholický

🇸🇰 alkoholický

🇨🇳 酒精的

🇸🇮 alkoholni

🇮🇸 áfengis

🇰🇿 алкогольді

🇬🇪 ალკოჰოლური

🇦🇿 alkoqollu

🇲🇽 alcohólico

Etymology

The word 'alcoholic' originated in the early 19th century from the Latin word 'alcohol' combined with the suffix '-ic', meaning 'pertaining to'. It was initially used to describe a chemical substance, but later evolved to refer to a person addicted to alcohol. The concept of alcoholism has been recognized for centuries, with various treatments and attitudes towards it changing over time.

See also: alcohol.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,554 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.