bourbon

noun

bour·​bon ˈbu̇r-bən How to pronounce bourbon (audio)
ˈbȯr-;
usually in sense 3
ˈbər- How to pronounce bourbon (audio)
1
capitalized : a member of a French family founded in 1272 to which belong the rulers of France from 1589 to 1793 and from 1814 to 1830, of Spain from 1700 to 1808, from 1814 to 1868, from 1875 to 1931, and from 1975, of Naples from 1735 to 1805, and of the Two Sicilies from 1815 to 1860
2
: a rose (Rosa borboniana) of upright growth with shining leaves, prickly branches, and clustered large flowers
3
: a whiskey distilled from a mash made up of not less than 51 percent corn plus malt and rye compare corn whiskey
4
often capitalized : a person who clings obstinately to old social and political ideas
specifically : an extremely conservative member of the U.S. Democratic party usually from the South
bourbonism noun often capitalized

Examples of bourbon in a Sentence

I prefer bourbon to Scotch.
Recent Examples on the Web The two core expressions are Finest Blended, a blend of malt and grain whiskies, and Small Batch, a blend of malt whiskies that were aged in bourbon, sherry, and mizunara barrels. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2024 Episodes of labor unrest have occurred in recent years in Kentucky’s renowned bourbon industry, including strikes that involved prominent producers including Jim Beam, Four Roses and Heaven Hill. Bruce Schreiner, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bourbon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bourbon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) after the lordship of Bourbon in central France, where the family originated; (sense 2) after French rose de Bourbon, after the Île Bourbon (now réunion), where the rose likely originated; (sense 3) probably after Bourbon County, Kentucky, or its pre-statehood predecessor, a county of Virginia that included much of northeastern Kentucky; (sense 4) after the association of the Bourbon dynasty with conservative royalist politics in France

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bourbon was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near bourbon

Cite this Entry

“Bourbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bourbon. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Biographical Definition

Bourbon

biographical name

Bour·​bon ˈbu̇r-bən How to pronounce Bourbon (audio)
bu̇r-ˈbōⁿ
Charles de 1490–1527 Duc de Bourbon French general; constable of France

More from Merriam-Webster on bourbon

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