1
a
: a usually iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients
b
: something resembling or suggesting such a drink as being a mixture of often diverse elements or ingredients
a cocktail of remembered incidents and pure imagination—
Charlotte Low
Charlotte Lowa cocktail of herbicides
c
: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis
2
: an appetizer served as a first course at a meal
1
: of, relating to, or set aside for cocktails
a cocktail hour
2
: designed for semiformal wear
a cocktail dress
: a horse with its tail docked
Examples of cocktail in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an autopsy found a lethal cocktail of banned substances in the actor's body
Recent Examples on the Web
Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The hot tub in said stand isn’t open, sadly, but its ground floor is, for people to buy lager, ice cream, coffee, tacos, cocktails and, of course, Pimms.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Best Restaurants Jack's Beach Bar Set on the sands of Princess Margaret Beach, Jack's Beach Bar embraces its barefoot, beachy feel while offering an elevated dining experience with fresh cuisine and colorful cocktails.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
Authors Jason O'Bryan Jason O'Bryan has set up a professional life at the intersection of writing and cocktails.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cocktail
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Turquoise waters and swaying palms, gentle breezes and sunset cocktails—few places on Earth inspire tranquility quite like the Caribbean.
From Aruba to Antigua, Belize to the Bahamas, the region has an irresistible charm that has drawn tourists and escape-seekers for decades.
—Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The hot tub in said stand isn’t open, sadly, but its ground floor is, for people to buy lager, ice cream, coffee, tacos, cocktails and, of course, Pimms.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Best Restaurants Jack's Beach Bar Set on the sands of Princess Margaret Beach, Jack's Beach Bar embraces its barefoot, beachy feel while offering an elevated dining experience with fresh cuisine and colorful cocktails.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
Authors Jason O'Bryan Jason O'Bryan has set up a professional life at the intersection of writing and cocktails.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cocktail
Cite this Entry
“Cocktail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocktail. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cocktail
noun
cock·tail
ˈkäk-ˌtāl 
: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis
a potent cocktail of antiretroviral drugs—Zia Jaffrey
Zia Jaffreychemotherapy cocktails to treat cancer—J. L. Swerdlow
J. L. SwerdlowLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share