alcoholism

[al-kuh-haw-liz-uhm, -ho-]

noun

1. (not in technical use as a medical diagnosis,alcohol use disorder ) a chronic illness characterized by dependence on alcohol, repeated excessive use of alcoholic beverages, the development of withdrawal symptoms upon reducing or ceasing intake, morbidity that may include cirrhosis of the liver, and decreased ability to function socially and professionally.

alcoholism

/ ˈælkəhɒˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a condition in which dependence on alcohol harms a person's health, social functioning, or family life

alcoholism

1. A progressive, potentially fatal disease characterized by the excessive and compulsive consumption of alcoholic beverages and physiological and psychological dependence on alcohol. Chronic alcoholism usually results in liver and other organ damage, nutritional deficiencies and impaired social functioning.

alcoholism

1. A chronic disease associated with the excessive and habitual use of alcohol; the disease, if left unattended, worsens and can kill the sufferer. Alcoholism is marked by physical dependency and can cause disorders in many organs of the body, including the liver (see cirrhosis), stomach, intestines, and brain. It is also associated with abnormal heart rhythms, with certain cancers, and, because of loss of appetite, with poor nutrition. The cause of alcoholism is very complicated and most often involves a mixture of physical, psychological, and possibly genetic factors.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcoholism¹

First recorded in 1855–60; alcohol + -ism

Example Sentences

He struggled with fame that led him to alcoholism.

From Salon

But one woman, from Gwynedd, who has battled alcoholism said raising the price would only cause "more suffering" to families of addicts.

From BBC

Earhart was born into a solidly middle-class family in Kansas, close to her younger sister, Muriel, but her father’s job failures and alcoholism uprooted the Earharts, undermining the girls’ educations.

From Los Angeles Times

She sees his alcoholism as the byproduct of an idealism that got crushed.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s an occasionally illuminating discussion, but Pitt and Shepard only get into the subject of alcoholism itself, not what specifically fueled it or what havoc it caused.

From Salon

Related Words

• addiction 
• alcohol abuse www.thesaurus.com
• alcohol addiction www.thesaurus.com
• alcohol dependence 
• substance abuse