Alcoholics

/ˌælkəˈhɒlɪks/

nounIntermediateCommonMedical

Definitions

1

Persons suffering from alcoholism, a chronic disease characterized by an uncontrollable dependence on alcohol.

/ˌælkəˈhɒlɪks/

nounnegativeIntermediate
Medical

People addicted to alcohol

Many alcoholics find recovery through support groups.

💡 Simply: People who are addicted to alcohol.

More Examples

2

The rehabilitation center helps alcoholics overcome their addiction.

How It's Used

Medical

"The clinic provides support groups for alcoholics."

Social Work

"Many alcoholics struggle with social isolation."

From "alcoholic" + plural suffix "-s". "Alcoholic" derives from "alcohol" ultimately from Arabic الكحول (al-kuḥūl) meaning 'the kohl', referring to a fine powder used for eye makeup, later applied to the distilled spirit.

The term 'alcoholics' came into common use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the understanding of alcoholism as a disease developed.

Memory tip

Think 'alcohol' + '-ics' (suffix indicating a condition or a group of people with it).

alcohoicsalchoholicsalcaholics

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written