What does dui mean?
DUI stands for 'driving under the influence' and denotes the criminal offense of operating a motor vehicle while one's ability to drive safely is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. It is the standard legal term across much of the United States, though some states use the closely related term DWI ('driving while intoxicated'), and which acronym applies can vary by jurisdiction. In everyday American usage, DUI appears most often as a modifier — as in 'DUI charge,' 'DUI conviction,' or 'DUI checkpoint' — and it is spoken letter by letter rather than pronounced as a single word. A DUI conviction typically carries serious consequences, including fines, license suspension, mandatory education programs, and possible jail time, particularly for repeat offenses. The term carries strong social stigma, and awareness campaigns around DUI prevention are widespread. Outside the United States, equivalent offenses go by different names, such as 'drink-driving' in Britain.
nounDUI is an abbreviation for 'driving under the influence,' a criminal offense in the United States involving operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- The criminal offense of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs (abbreviation of 'driving under the influence').
"He was arrested for DUI after failing the roadside sobriety test."
"The court suspended her license for six months following her first DUI."
"Police set up a DUI checkpoint on the highway over the holiday weekend."
Pluralized by adding -s, typically referring to multiple charges or convictions.
"He has three prior DUIs on his record."
Whether you're charged with a DUI or a DWI can depend entirely on which side of a state line you're on when you're pulled over.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dui
DUI is an initialism formed from the phrase 'driving under the influence,' which emerged in twentieth-century American legal language as states codified statutes against impaired driving. The phrase gained wide currency during the latter half of the century as drunk-driving enforcement intensified nationwide. Its counterpart DWI, from 'driving while intoxicated,' arose similarly within state penal codes; neither term has meaningful cognates outside English legal usage.
How dui is actually used
DUI is almost always used as an attributive noun or in legal/official contexts ('a DUI charge,' 'a DUI conviction'). It is pronounced as four separate letters rather than read aloud as a word. The term is specific to United States law; British English uses 'drink-driving' instead. Because laws differ by state, some jurisdictions formally distinguish DUI from DWI based on blood-alcohol thresholds, but in everyday speech the terms are often used loosely and interchangeably.
Easily confused with dui
DWI stands for 'driving while intoxicated' and is the preferred term in some states (such as Texas and New York), whereas DUI is used elsewhere; the two are largely interchangeable but the exact legal term varies by state.