congener

[ kon-juh-ner ]

noun

1. a person or thing of the same kind or class as another.
2. a plant, animal, fungus, etc., belonging to the same genus as another.
3. Also a secondary product formed in alcohol during fermentation that determines largely the character of the final liquor.

congener

/ ˈkɒndʒɪnə; kənˈdʒiːnə /

noun

1. a member of a class, group, or other category, esp any animal of a specified genus
2. a by-product formed in alcoholic drinks during the fermentation process, which largely determines the flavour and colour of the drink

Word History and Origins

Origin of congener¹

1720–30; < Latin, equivalent to con- con- + gener- (stem of genus ); genus, general

Word History and Origins

Origin of congener¹

C18: from Latin, from com- same + genus kind

Example Sentences

This dual capacity distinguishes us from other species which, to learn a new task, need numerous trials accompanied by positive or negative reinforcement signals, without being able to communicate it to their congeners.

From Science Daily

The usual suspects, however, are not the alcohol molecules but the enigmatic chemicals known as congeners.

From Salon

The type of still will influence the beverages’ final flavor, because pot stills often do not separate the congeners as precisely as column stills do.

From Scientific American

The type of still will influence the beverages' final flavor, because pot stills often do not separate the congeners as precisely as column stills do.

From Salon

The type of beverage you drink also matters: Tequila, whiskey and darker alcohols contain compounds called congeners, which are more likely to bring on longer-lasting hangovers because of how they are metabolized, Roberts said.

From Seattle Times