stiffener

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

Meaning · English

An alcoholic drink taken to fortify oneself.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I believe the old man has taken himself off to the nearest bar for a stiffener.

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 “stiffener” mean?

An alcoholic drink taken to fortify oneself.

Is “stiffener” formal or informal?

stiffener is generally slang.