seltzers

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Plural of seltzer: plain fizzy water, sold in bottles or cans.

   Grammar: Plural form: the store sells many seltzers; use seltzer for the uncountable water.

   Patterns

   • flavored seltzers
   • a case of seltzers

   The fridge was full of lemon and lime seltzers.

   We ordered two seltzers with ice at the diner.

   Several seltzers on the menu had no sugar at all.

2. 2nounpluralinformal

   Canned sparkling drinks that are flavored and contain alcohol, often marketed as a lighter alternative to beer.

   Grammar: Usually called hard seltzers: they are alcoholic, unlike plain seltzers.

   Patterns

   • hard seltzers

   Hard seltzers became popular at summer parties.

   She brought a cooler of seltzers to the beach.

   Some seltzers contain as much alcohol as a light beer.

Word forms

Common combinations

flavored seltzers

Flavored seltzers come in grapefruit and cherry.

hard seltzers

The cooler held hard seltzers and soda.

sparkling seltzers

Sparkling seltzers are a popular replacement for soda.

a case of seltzers

He bought a case of seltzers for the picnic.

cold seltzers

They handed out cold seltzers after the game.

Synonyms and how they differ

sparkling waters

The usual British choice, and it often implies natural mineral water, while seltzer is artificially carbonated.

club sodas

Similar fizzy water, but with added minerals that give a slightly salty taste.

fizzy waters

More informal and mainly British, covering any carbonated water.

Opposites

Word family

seltzer noun

singular form of the word

carbonated adjective

containing dissolved gas bubbles

soda noun

a fizzy drink

Commonly confused: seltzers or Alka-Seltzer?

Practice

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