A person addicted to alcohol.
"After years of struggling with his drinking, he finally sought help as an alcoholic."
In plain English: An alcoholic is someone who drinks too much alcohol and cannot stop even though it hurts them.
"The alcoholic needed help to stop drinking and get his life back on track."
Of or pertaining to alcohol.
"The alcoholic beverage was served in small glasses at the bar."
In plain English: Alcoholic describes someone who has become so addicted to drinking alcohol that they cannot stop, even though it hurts their life and health.
"The alcoholic content in this wine is very low."
The word alcoholic first appeared in English in 1891 by adding the suffix "-ic" to alcohol. It was created specifically to describe a person who habitually consumes alcohol or suffers from its effects.