Mescal is a noun with two distinct meanings: it can refer to a small cactus associatedLinked or connected with something else in meaning or use. with peyote, or to a Mexican distilledPurified by heating and cooling into a stronger alcoholic form. liquor made from agave juices. The two senses are unrelatedNot connected; having no relationship to one another. and should not be mixed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈmɛskæl/
Easy pronunciation: MES-kal (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Liquor sense only; not the cactus sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Mescal Meaning
a strong Mexican alcoholic drink made from agave
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a colorless Mexican liquor distilled from fermented juices of certain desert plants of the genus Agavaceae, especially the century plant
Example: He ordered a shot of mescal at the bar.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- mezcal — Common alternate spelling used for the liquor sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Mescal
Meaning 2
a small cactus, also called peyote
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a small spineless globe-shaped cactus; source of mescal buttons
Example: The plant was identified as mescal, a type of peyote cactus.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- lophophora williamsii — Scientific name for the cactus sense.
- peyote — Common name for the cactus sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Mescal Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- mezcal
the cactus sense
- lophophora williamsii
- peyote
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing mescal, the liquor, with mescal, the cactus.
- Assuming peyote is a synonym for the drink rather than the plant.
- Using mezcal and mescal as if they always mean the same thing without checking the sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mescal mean?
Mescal can mean either a Mexican agave-based liquor or a small cactus known as peyote, depending on the context.
Is mescal the same as mezcal?
For the liquor sense, mescal is commonly treated as an alternate spelling of mezcal.
Is peyote a synonym for mescal?
Only for the cactus sense. It is not a synonym for the alcoholic drink.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.