What does mead mean?
Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey diluted with water. Its ingredients may also include fruit, herbs, spices, or grain, so its flavor and strength can vary considerably. In modern English, the word is especially associated with medieval and Norse traditions, as well as historical fairs and celebrations, although mead is also brewed as a contemporary craft beverage. It differs from ordinary wine because its principal fermentable substance is honey rather than grapes, and it differs from beer because honey is the characteristic source of its sweetness. Mead is generally classified as a honey wine, and it may be served chilled or at room temperature. The term can describe both a specific drink and, more broadly, a range of related fermented-honey beverages. Although its vocabulary is relatively uncommon in everyday speech, mead has a recognizable place in cultural traditions involving feasting, mythology, and renewed interest in traditional alcoholic drinks.
nounAn alcoholic drink made by fermenting diluted honey, sometimes flavored with fruit, herbs, or spices.
- An alcoholic drink made by fermenting diluted honey, sometimes flavored with fruit, herbs, or spices.
"The feast was served with bread, roasted meat, and plentiful mead."
"The village celebrated its harvest with bowls of mead and warm bread."
"At the historical reenactment, the host offered visitors a choice of mead or ale."
The plural is used when referring to multiple servings, examples, or varieties of mead.
"The festival featured meads from brewers across the region."
Mead is the ancient honey drink of feasts and legends, older in English tradition than the word for a pint of beer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mead come from?
The English word descends from Old English mēad, meaning a drink made from honey. It continues Proto-Germanic *mēdaz, which has relatives in Old Norse, Old High German, and other Germanic languages. The word is ultimately associated with the same Indo-European root found in modern English honey, although the precise reconstruction of its older sound development is less certain.
How mead is actually used
The word is used in both British and American English, but it is less common in everyday modern usage than beer, wine, or cider. It often carries associations with medieval banquets, Norse tradition, and rustic or historical celebrations.
Easily confused with mead
Mead is a fermented honey drink, whereas meat is animal flesh used as food.