whiskey

1 of 2

noun

whis·​key ˈ(h)wi-skē How to pronounce whiskey (audio)
variants or whisky
plural whiskeys or whiskies
1
: a liquor distilled from fermented wort (such as that obtained from rye, corn, or barley mash)
2
: a drink of whiskey

Whiskey

2 of 2

communications code word

used as a code word for the letter w

Examples of whiskey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Vera appears to exist on chips, crisps, biscuits and the (more than) occasional slug of whiskey from a tea cup. Mary McNamara, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2025 Overall, the news about various categories of whiskey has not been great in recent months—the American whiskey market has softened and some distilleries are cutting back production, craft spirits are in a slump, and rare scotch sales are down by about 40 percent. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Jan. 2025 Today nonalcoholic products like Lyre’s, Seedlip, and Ghia, to name a few, are designed to deliver layers of flavor and depth in a bottle, but there’s still a lingering perception that these products are one-to-one swaps for vodka, gin, whiskey, and other traditional spirits. Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appétit, 9 Jan. 2025 Both men say that the launch of this bourbon is also the launch of more collaborations and projects that fuse the world of fine whiskey with the world of entertainment. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for whiskey 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Irish uisce beatha & Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha, literally, water of life

First Known Use

Noun

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Communications Code Word

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whiskey was in 1715

Dictionary Entries Near whiskey

Cite this Entry

“Whiskey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiskey. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

whiskey

noun
whis·​key
variants or whisky
ˈhwis-kē How to pronounce whiskey (audio)
ˈwis-
plural whiskeys or whiskies
: an alcoholic liquor made from grain (as rye, corn, or barley)
Etymology

Noun

from uisce beatha, a phrase in Irish (the ancient language of Ireland) and isuge beatha, a phrase in Scottish Gaelic (the ancient language of Scotland), both meaning literally "water of life"

Medical Definition

whiskey

noun
whis·​key
variants or whisky
plural whiskeys or whiskies
: a liquor that is distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley) and was formerly used medicinally as a sedative and vasodilator

More from Merriam-Webster on whiskey

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