1
capitalized
: a member of a French family founded in 1272 to which belong the rulers of France from 1589 to 1793 and from 1814 to 1830, of Spain from 1700 to 1808, from 1814 to 1868, from 1875 to 1931, and from 1975, of Naples from 1735 to 1805, and of the Two Sicilies from 1815 to 1860
2
: a rose (Rosa borboniana) of upright growth with shining leaves, prickly branches, and clustered large flowers
3
: a whiskey distilled from a mash made up of not less than 51 percent corn plus malt and rye compare corn whiskey
4
often capitalized
: a person who clings obstinately to old social and political ideas
specifically
: an extremely conservative member of the U.S. Democratic party usually from the South
Examples of bourbon in a Sentence
I prefer bourbon to Scotch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hot on the heels of the re-launch of Old Forester’s 1924 bourbon earlier this month comes the return of another fan favorite from the Kentucky distillery.
—
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025
Each bourbon and cigar offers an excellent combination of quality and value, offering rich and diverse flavor profiles that appeal to both bourbon and cigar enthusiasts.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Already during Trump’s first term in the White House, Canada responded to Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum with its own on American products like bourbon, Harley Davidson motorcycles and playing cards.
—Jim Morris, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025
Here are options for local hot coffee or tea that are more unique than your average mocha:
Deep latte: Lucky Detroit, a small chain with locations in Corktown and the 'burbs, makes its own small-batch vanilla bourbon simple syrup in Oak Park for its vanilla bourbon latte.
—Annalise Frank, Axios, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bourbon 
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Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025
Each bourbon and cigar offers an excellent combination of quality and value, offering rich and diverse flavor profiles that appeal to both bourbon and cigar enthusiasts.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Already during Trump’s first term in the White House, Canada responded to Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum with its own on American products like bourbon, Harley Davidson motorcycles and playing cards.
—Jim Morris, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025
Here are options for local hot coffee or tea that are more unique than your average mocha:
Deep latte: Lucky Detroit, a small chain with locations in Corktown and the 'burbs, makes its own small-batch vanilla bourbon simple syrup in Oak Park for its vanilla bourbon latte.
—Annalise Frank, Axios, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bourbon
Articles Related to bourbon
Dictionary Entries Near bourbon
Cite this Entry
“Bourbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bourbon. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Bourbon
biographical name
Bour·bon
ˈbu̇r-bən 
bu̇r-ˈbōⁿ
Charles de 1490–1527 Duc de Bourbon French general; constable of France
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