DictionarydryLack of sweetness
adjective

dry

Not sweet, especially of wine.

She chooses a dry white wine to serve with dinner.

Etymology

The inherited word for lacking moisture acquired a specialized taste sense. A dry wine lacks noticeable sweetness, even though the liquid itself is plainly not dry.

More examples

  • The wine tastes dry rather than sweet.
  • He prefers a drier cider.
  • The driest bottle on the list suited her taste.

Forms

dry · drier · driest

Similar words

unsweetened
No sweetener added, rather than low residual sugar in wine.