What does orangeade mean?
Orangeade is a sweet beverage made from orange juice, orange flavor, water, and usually sugar. It is commonly served chilled, often over ice, and may be carbonated or mixed with sparkling water. Although sometimes used interchangeably with orange juice drink in casual speech, orangeade generally refers to a prepared refreshment rather than plain juice. The word has a nostalgic and summery association, evoking holidays, picnics, children’s drinks, and old-fashioned soda fountains. It is also used for flavored drinks made with syrup or concentrate, so it does not necessarily imply that fresh fruit juice is the main ingredient. In American English, orangeade is a familiar soft-drink term; in British English, orange squash is often preferred for the concentrated version.
nounA sweet drink made from orange juice, often diluted with water and sometimes flavored or colored. It may also be made with orange-flavored syrup rather than fresh juice.
- A sweet, usually carbonated or non-carbonated drink flavored with orange.
"She served chilled orangeade with the summer lunch."
"The café sells orangeade in tall glasses with slices of orange."
"I mixed orangeade with sparkling water for a refreshing drink."
The plural is used when referring to multiple drinks, types of orangeade, or separate servings.
"The shop stocks several varieties of orangeades."
Orangeade turns the humble citrus fruit into a nostalgic summer cooler, with a name that echoes the elegant French word for a drink.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does orangeade come from?
The word orangeade combines orange with the French suffix -ade, which can form names of drinks and other liquids. French orangeade has long referred to an orange-flavored beverage. English borrowed the term during the 19th century, when citrus drinks and soda beverages became increasingly popular. The related word lemonade was formed in the same way, using the fruit name lemon with the suffix -ade.
How orangeade is actually used
The word is especially associated with sweet, commercially prepared soft drinks and nostalgic refreshments. In British English, it is less common than orange squash, which normally refers to a concentrated drink that must be diluted.
Easily confused with orangeade
Orangeade is generally a prepared, sweetened drink, whereas orange juice is the liquid extracted from the fruit itself.
Orange squash is typically a concentrated cordial diluted with water, while orangeade is usually a ready-to-drink orange-flavored beverage.