alcoholism

Definition of Alcoholism

(noun) A chronic disease caused by compulsive, dependent, and excessive consumption of alcohol, leading to deterioration of mental and physical health, as well as social and vocational functioning.

Alcoholism Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: al·co·hol·ism

Audio Pronunciation

International Phonetic Alphabet

• American English – /ˈælkəˌhɑˌlɪz(ə)m/
• British English – /ˈalkəhɒlɪz(ə)m/

Usage Notes

• Plural: alcoholisms
• Also called:
  • alcohol abuse
  • alcohol addiction
  • alcohol dependence
• Historically called:
  • dipsomania
  • potomania
• An (noun) alcoholic is addicted to alcohol.

Additional Information

• Medical Sociology Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
• Word origin of “alcoholism” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com
• Roman, Paul M. 1991. Alcohol: The Development of Sociological Perspectives on Use and Abuse. New Brunswick, NJ: Publications Division, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies.

Related Terms

• acute disease
• chronic disease
• deviance
• disease
• epidemiology
• genetic disorder
• health
• medical sociology
• medicalization
• stereotype
• stigmatization

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Cite the Definition of Alcoholism

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “alcoholism.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved September 17, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/alcoholism/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

alcoholism. (2013). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/alcoholism/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “alcoholism.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/alcoholism/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“alcoholism.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 17 Sep. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/alcoholism/>.