breathalyzer
BRETH-uh-ly-zer
/ˈbrɛθəlaɪzər/
A device used by police to measure the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath, indicating their level of intoxication.
Breathalyzer is actually a brand name that became a generic term for any breath alcohol testing device.
The story behind the word. The Breathalyzer was invented by Robert Borkenstein in 1954. It is a portmanteau (blend) of the words 'breath' and 'analyzer'. Before its invention, police had to draw blood to prove intoxication.
Word relationships
- intoxilyzer: Intoxilyzer is another brand name used by law enforcement, though breathalyzer is far more common in everyday speech.
Commonly confused with
- blood test: A blood test directly measures alcohol in the bloodstream, whereas a breathalyzer estimates it from breath vapor.
Word family
- breathalyze (verb): To test a person's breath for alcohol content.
Collocations
- breathalyzer test
- administer a breathalyzer
- fail a breathalyzer
- portable breathalyzer
Example sentences
- "The officer administered a breathalyzer test to determine if the driver was over the legal blood alcohol limit." A description of a standard roadside sobriety test.
Memory hook
A breathalyzer is a tool that 'analyzes' your 'breath' to see if you have had too much to drink. Breath + Analyzer = Breathalyzer.
When not to use
Do not use 'breathalyzer' to refer to blood tests or urine tests used to detect alcohol or drugs.
Fun facts
- The original 1950s Breathalyzer used chemical reactions involving potassium dichromate, which changed color in the presence of alcohol.
Related words
Explore more words
toxicology, odometer, thermometer, gauge, public intoxication, generic
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.