elixir

American  

[ih-lik-ser] / ɪˈlɪk sər /

noun

• elixirs
  plural

1. Pharmacology. a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances.

2. Also called elixir of life.  an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of prolonging life.

3. an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of transmuting base metals into gold.

4. the quintessence or absolute embodiment of anything.

5. a panacea; cure-all; sovereign remedy.

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elixir British  

/ ɪˈlɪksə /

noun

1. an alchemical preparation supposed to be capable of prolonging life indefinitely ( elixir of life ) or of transmuting base metals into gold

2. anything that purports to be a sovereign remedy; panacea

3. an underlying principle; quintessence

4. a liquid containing a medicinal drug with syrup, glycerine, or alcohol added to mask its unpleasant taste

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• elixirs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of elixir

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin < Arabic al iksīr alchemical preparation < Late Greek xḗrion drying powder (for wounds), equivalent to Greek xēr ( ós ) dry + -ion, neuter of -ios adj. suffix

Explanation

Miraculous, magical, and maybe a little mysterious, an elixir is a sweet substance or solution that cures the problem at hand. Elixir is a word often used with a knowing wink — a sort of overstatement of a product's effectiveness, or a decision maker's policy. With linguistic roots in the long-ago alchemists' search for the philosophers' stone, the word has an element of fantasy to spice up anything, like a remedy for the common cold. The mythic fountain of youth is certainly an elixir, but it can also refer to a real liquid, concept, or plan.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elixir elixirs

Filler: The magic elixir for bigger lips, fuller cheeks and Kardashianesque features is seeing a decline in U.S. sales.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Served over ice in a short glass and topped with fruit-salad flotsam, the elixir is lightly caffeinated, mildly fruity and as refreshing as stepping out of the Hanoi humidity into full-blast air conditioning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026

But it all started with “Buckingham Nicks,” the sweet, magical elixir that fueled one of rock’s most enduring fusions.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2025

An "elixir of life" made from a "secret recipe" is given to the groundhog every summer which is what gives Phil his "longevity and youthful good looks", it says on the club's website.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2025

She tried to move closer to the table with the elixir bottles, but she had to concentrate on keeping the Quassia vines wrapped around Gia.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Her Anima Mundi Herbals is based in Brooklyn, N.Y., where the company manufactures herbal tinctures, elixirs, teas, herbal supplements and other botanicals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

More than a century ago, hucksters peddled magic elixirs from wagons.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 31, 2024

Pills, tonics, elixirs, Zumba, Noom and now Ozempic.

From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2023

The lounge offers zero-proof cocktails, botanical mixes and elixirs, an oxygen bar and bottle shop with alcohol-free spirits.

From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2023

Asher looks like the captain that he is, while Roshan, our Shield, has armguards larger than any of ours, his belt equipped with potions and elixirs he can use to protect the rest of us.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• cure-all
• panacea
• potion