rum

1 of 2

noun

ˈrəm 

1

: an alcoholic beverage distilled from a fermented cane product (such as molasses)

2

: alcoholic liquor

the demon rum

rum

2 of 2

adjective

rummer; rummest

1

British, informal + somewhat old-fashioned : strange, odd

Now writing is rum trade and eyes are rum things, and what is all right one day is all wrong the next.

—Angela Thirkell

2

British, informal + somewhat old-fashioned : difficult, dangerous

Synonyms

Noun

• alcohol
• aqua vitae
• ardent spirits
• booze
• bottle
• drink
• firewater
• grog
• hooch [slang]
• inebriant
• intoxicant
• John Barleycorn
• juice [slang]
• liquor
• lush [slang]
• moonshine
• potable
• sauce [slang]
• spirits
• stimulant
• strong drink
• tipple

Adjective

• bizarre
• bizarro
• cranky
• crazy
• curious
• eccentric
• erratic
• far-out
• funky
• funny
• kinky
• kooky
• kookie
• odd
• off-kilter
• off-the-wall
• offbeat
• out-of-the-way
• outlandish
• outré
• peculiar
• quaint
• queer
• queerish
• quirky
• remarkable
• screwy
• spaced-out
• strange
• wacky
• whacky
• way-out
• weird
• weirdo
• wild

Examples of rum in a Sentence

Noun

a fiery sermon on the evils of demon rum

Adjective

They're a pretty rum lot.

she wears staid business suits, but prefers some quite rum knickers underneath

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is an 11-year-old single malt distilled at the Islay distillery that was initially aged in bourbon and sherry casks before being finished for more than eight months in rum barrels sourced from the Caribbean. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 May 2024

Durie held out a bottle of rum and urged Holt to take a swig. —Eric Jay Dolin, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably short for obsolete rumbullion rum

Adjective

of uncertain origin

First Known Use

Noun

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rum

• bay rum
• bay-rum tree
• Jamaica rum

Kids Definition

rum

noun

ˈrəm

: an alcoholic liquor made from molasses or sugarcane