ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈe-thə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce ethanol (audio) -ˌnōl How to pronounce ethanol (audio)
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
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.
As the Gulf crisis has pushed up the price of oil, government mandates for biofuel—a blend of ethanol (from corn or sugarcane) and diesel; or diesel and vegetable oil—have also risen. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 Their targets included more than a thousand gas stations, four ethanol plants, a trucking fleet, a port terminal, investment funds and offices on Avenida Faria Lima, the center of São Paulo’s financial district. — Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026 Rooms at the Villa Miloer have ethanol-burning fireplaces, potted orchids, and cocoa silk-tweed sofas with suede pillows. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026 South Dakota’s congressional delegation is hopeful that year-round, nationwide approval of E15 — a gasoline blend with 15% ethanol — will clear Congress this year, bolstered by its inclusion in the latest Senate version of the farm bill. — Makenzie Huber, States Newsroom, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ethanol

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethanol was in 1892

Rhymes for ethanol

See All Rhymes for ethanol

Browse Nearby Words

Ethanim
ethanol
ethanolamine
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ethanol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethanol. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ethanol

noun
eth·​a·​nol ˈeth-ə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce ethanol (audio)
-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 How to pronounce ethanol (audio) -ˌnōl How to pronounce ethanol (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on ethanol

Nglish: Translation of ethanol for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ethanol

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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