Definition

Proper noun: * Alcoholics Anonymous: An international fellowship and support organization for individuals who share the common goal of overcoming alcoholism. It is a voluntary, non-professional, and self-supporting program based on a twelve-step model of recovery.

Usage

• The term "Alcoholics Anonymous" is used as the official name of the organization. It is often abbreviated as AA.
• It refers to the collective group, its meetings, and its program.
  • He found hope and support through Alcoholics Anonymous.
  • She attends an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting every Tuesday evening.
  • The principles of Alcoholics Anonymous have helped millions.

Advanced Usage

• "an AA meeting": A gathering of members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
  • His first step was walking into an AA meeting.
• "the AA program" / "the AA twelve steps": Refers specifically to the structured recovery methodology used by the fellowship.
  • Working the AA program requires honesty and commitment.

Variants and Related Words

• AA (abbreviation): The common and widely accepted short form for Alcoholics Anonymous.
  • You can find a local AA meeting schedule online.
• Al-Anon (proper noun): A separate but related fellowship for friends and family members of alcoholics.

Synonyms

• Support group (general term): A group of people with common experiences who provide mutual support.
• Fellowship: A friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests. (This captures the communal aspect of AA.)
• Twelve-step program: A broad term for recovery programs modeled on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Related Phrases

• "To be in AA": To be a participating member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
  • He has been in AA for five years and is now a sponsor.
• "To work the steps": To actively engage with the twelve-step recovery process of Alcoholics Anonymous.
  • Recovery is about more than not drinking; it's about working the steps.

Noun

1. an international organization that provides a support group for persons trying to overcome alcoholism