What does "whiskey" mean?
A liquor distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley).
Whiskey
/ˈwɪski/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A liquor distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley).
- Grammar: whiskey is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absinthe, alternate spelling, american spelling, angostura bitters.
- Useful contrasts: nonalcoholic beverage, water.
- Usage evidence: Excuse me just a second. I'll go and get the whiskey.
How to use "whiskey"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whiskey" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whiskey" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whiskey" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "whiskey" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "whiskey" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absinthe" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "whiskey", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A liquor distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley). England, Ireland, US, countable, uncountable
"The exceſſive drinking of ſpirituous liquours, eſpecially whiſkey, is now become ſo common, that more people are killed by them, than by ſmall-pox, fevers, broken limbs, accidents, and all other diſtempers put together. And we are credibly informed, that in one dram ſhop only in this town, there are 120 gallons of that accurſed ſpirit, whiſkey, ſold."
- 2 A light gig or carriage drawn by one horse. historical
"Ye Ladies of Lapland who beesoms bestride, Or, pair’d in Witch Whiskeys, aslant the Moon slide;"
- 3 a liquor made from fermented mash of grain wordnet
- 4 A drink of whiskey. England, Ireland, US, countable, uncountable
- 5 Alternative letter-case form of Whiskey from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet. alt-of, countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
nonalcoholic beveragewater
Example
"Excuse me just a second. I'll go and get the whiskey."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "whiskey"?
Common synonyms include: absinthe, alternate spelling, american spelling, angostura bitters, bitters, blended whiskey.
How do you use "whiskey" in a sentence?
Excuse me just a second. I'll go and get the whiskey.
How do you pronounce "whiskey"?
Pronounced /ˈwɪski/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wed- Proto-Indo-European *-r̥ Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥der. Proto-Celtic *udenskyos Old Irish uisce Irish uisce Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós Proto-Celtic *biwos Proto-Celtic *-tūts Proto-Celtic *biwotūts Old Irish bethu Irish beatha Medieval Latin aqua vītaecalq. Irish uisce beathabor. ▲ Old Irish uisce Scottish Gaelic uisge ▲ Old Irish bethu Scottish Gaelic beatha Medieval Latin aqua vītaecalq. Scottish Gaelic uisge-beathabor. English usquebaugh English usque English whiskey Variant of usque, abbreviation of usquebaugh, from Irish uisce beatha, calque of Medieval Latin aqua vītae (“water of life”). Compare akvavit, aquavit, aqua vitae, eau de vie, and water of life from the same source and vodka from a Russian diminutive for water in reference to the dilution of pure grain spirits.
Etymology 2
From whisk + -ey.