Phrase guide

hard liquor

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Synonym of liquor (strict sense): a beverage that has been distilled to give it a high alcohol content (high proof, high ABV).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Various hard liquors have become cultural touchstones, as bourbon in Kentucky, vodka in Russia, and baijiu in China.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spirits, hard drink, strong drink, booze, aqua vitae, water of life, liquor

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: liquor, booze, adult beverage, drink, beverage

2

noun

Meaning 2

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: liquor, spirits, booze, hard drink, John Barleycorn, strong drink

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: alcohol, alcoholic drink, alcoholic beverage, intoxicant, inebriant

Narrower terms: aqua vitae, ardent spirits, aquavit, akvavit, arrack, arak, bitters, brandy, gin, ouzo, rum, schnapps, schnaps, mescal, tequila, vodka, whiskey, whisky, firewater, lacing

History

Etymology

Clarification of the intended sense of liquor, which originally had a wider sense of application to many liquids and remains polysemous regarding distilled alcoholic drinks versus nondistilled ones (such as beer and wine).