What does alcoholism mean?
Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive condition in which a person becomes physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol, continuing to drink despite serious harm to health, relationships, and work. Clinically, it overlaps with what physicians now call alcohol use disorder, a term that has largely replaced 'alcoholism' in formal diagnosis, though the older word remains common in everyday language. Treating alcoholism as a disease rather than a moral weakness was a significant shift in medical thinking, popularized in the nineteenth century by the Swedish physician Magnus Huss. The word appears frequently in phrases such as 'a history of alcoholism,' 'struggle with alcoholism,' and 'recovering from alcoholism,' and it should not be confused with 'alcoholic,' which describes either a sufferer of the condition or something containing alcohol. Related terms include sobriety and abstinence as its practical opposites.
nounA chronic, often progressive disorder characterized by a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, typically involving compulsive drinking despite harmful consequences.
- A chronic disease marked by dependence on and compulsive consumption of alcohol.
- Habitual excessive drinking generally (older, broader usage).
"After years of heavy drinking, he finally sought treatment for his alcoholism."
"Her father's alcoholism strained the family for years before he entered recovery."
"The clinic specializes in the treatment of alcoholism and other substance-use disorders."
Rarely used; the plural occasionally appears in clinical literature to refer to distinct types or patterns of alcohol dependence.
"Early researchers classified several distinct alcoholisms based on symptom patterns."
The word 'alcoholism' was popularized in the 19th century by Swedish physician Magnus Huss — before then, problem drinking was often just called 'drunkenness.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of alcoholism
The word 'alcoholism' derives from 'alcohol,' which itself traces back through Arabic al-kuḥl, originally referring to powdered antimony used as eye cosmetic, later extended to distilled spirits. The suffix '-ism' denotes a condition or state. The term was popularized in the mid-nineteenth century by the Swedish physician Magnus Huss in his influential work on chronic alcohol-related illness, helping establish habitual drunkenness as a medical condition rather than merely a vice.
Related word forms
How alcoholism is actually used
In modern clinical contexts, 'alcoholism' has largely been superseded by the diagnostic term 'alcohol use disorder,' though it remains widely used in everyday speech. The word carries a medical connotation, framing heavy drinking as an illness rather than a moral failing.
Easily confused with alcoholism
'Alcoholic' describes a person who suffers from the condition or something containing alcohol, whereas 'alcoholism' is the disease or condition itself.