ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈe-thə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

 British also  ˈē-

: a colorless volatile flammable liquid C₂H₅OH that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent and in fuel

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

Examples of ethanol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His argument rests on tariff disparities: For instance, the U.S. tariff on ethanol is 2.5%, while Brazil charges 18% on U.S. ethanol exports. —Christopher S. Tang, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2025

The White House has cited several examples of especially lopsided tariffs: Brazil taxes ethanol imports, including America’s, at 18%, but the U.S. tariff on ethanol is just 2.5%. —Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025

Toxicology testing found that Balaji had ethanol and amphetamine in his system at the time of his death, the autopsy report said. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2025

The increase in net loss was mainly due to decreased margins in the ethanol production segment. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ethanol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• fireball
• gasohol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈeth-ə-ˌnȯl 

-ˌnōl

: a colorless flammable easily evaporated liquid that is used to dissolve things and that is the substance in fermented and distilled liquors that can make one drunk

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

Medical Definition

ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈeth-ə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

: a colorless volatile flammable liquid C₂H₅OH that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

see alcohol sense 1