Definition

Noun: A person who is habitually or chronically drunk, especially one who is homeless or impoverished and drinks cheap wine or other alcohol.

Usage

The term "wino" specifically refers to a person with a severe, ongoing alcohol dependency. It often carries connotations of homelessness, poverty, and the consumption of inexpensive fortified wines or other low-cost alcoholic beverages. The word is generally considered informal and can be pejorative.

Examples

• The park bench was often occupied by a wino sleeping off his drink.
• She donated to the shelter that helped winos and other homeless individuals get back on their feet.
• In the old film, the character of the kind-hearted wino provided unexpected wisdom.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in sociological or journalistic contexts to describe a specific subset of alcoholics, though more neutral terms like "chronic alcoholic" or "person experiencing homelessness and alcohol use disorder" are often preferred in formal writing.
• It can sometimes appear in literary or cinematic works to quickly establish a character's social and economic condition.

Variants and Related Words

• Alcoholic (noun): A more general and clinical term for a person addicted to alcohol.
• Drunkard (noun): An older, general term for a person who is frequently drunk.
• Derelict (noun): Can refer to a person without a home or job who may also have substance abuse issues.

Synonyms

• Drunkard
• Sot
• Inebriate
• Alcoholic (though this is broader and more clinical)

Antonyms

• Teetotaler
• Abstainer
• Non-drinker

Noun

1. a chronic drinker