gin joint

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A commercial establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed, especially one which is shabby or downmarket.

Register: dated, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Rick Blaine: "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “gin joint” mean?

A commercial establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed, especially one which is shabby or downmarket.

Is “gin joint” formal or informal?

gin joint is generally dated, slang.