What does nonalcoholic mean?
Nonalcoholic means that something contains no alcohol or has had its alcohol removed. The word is used most often as an adjective before nouns such as “beverage,” “drink,” “beer,” and “wine,” where it identifies products suitable for people who avoid alcohol for religious, health, dietary, or personal reasons. It can also function as a noun, particularly on menus and in ordering situations, as in “a nonalcoholic with lime.” In contemporary usage, nonalcoholic products may be marketed as complete drinks in their own right rather than merely as substitutes for alcoholic versions. The term is neutral in tone and generally avoids the more informal implications of phrases such as “booze-free.” It is especially common in North America, though the closely related spelling “non-alcoholic” is also widely used in British English and other varieties.
Containing no alcohol or having had its alcohol removed.
"The café serves a wide selection of nonalcoholic beverages."
Commonly used attributively before “beverage,” “drink,” “beer,” “wine,” or similar nouns.
A drink or beverage that contains no alcohol.
"She ordered a nonalcoholic and asked for extra ice."
Common particularly on menus and in restaurant ordering contexts.
Used when referring collectively or separately to several drinks or beverages containing no alcohol.
"The hosts provided punch, lemonade, and other nonalcoholics."
A nonalcoholic can still be a sophisticated full-bodied drink, not merely a substitute for an alcoholic one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nonalcoholic come from?
The word was formed in English by combining the prefix non- with alcoholic. Alcoholic in turn derives from alcohol, which was borrowed through Medieval Latin from Arabic al-kuhl, ultimately referring to a substance used for distillation or to a drink containing it. The modern sense of a drink or preparation containing alcohol developed gradually, and the adjective nonalcoholic followed once such products became commercially and socially prominent.
Related word forms
How nonalcoholic is actually used
The adjective is standard and commonly precedes words such as “beverage,” “drink,” “beer,” and “wine.” As a noun, it is especially natural in the restaurant and hospitality contexts of ordering or listing drinks.