decaffeinated

decaffeinated — adjective

IPA/diːˈkæf.ɪ.neɪ.tɪd/
KK[dikˈæfənˌetɪd]IPA/dɪˈkæf.ə.neɪ.t̬ɪd/
  • decaffeinatedpositive
  • more decaffeinatedcomparative
  • most decaffeinatedsuperlative

1. describes a drink such as coffee or tea that has had most or all of its caffeine

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a drink such as coffee or tea that has had most or all of its caffeine taken out through a special chemical process, so that drinking it will not make you feel more awake or alert.

Example

Élise ordered a decaffeinated latte because she wanted to sleep well that night.

attributive: decaffeinated + noun describing the drink

The café offers both regular and decaffeinated versions of every tea on the menu.

decaffeinated used before a category noun (versions)

Common collocations
  • decaffeinated coffee
  • decaffeinated tea
  • decaffeinated espresso
  • decaffeinated latte
  • decaffeinated version
  • decaffeinated beans
Synonyms
  • caffeine-free

    more general term that can apply to any product (not just drinks); 'decaffeinated' is specifically for drinks that originally contained caffeine.

  • decaf

    informal shortened form, very common in everyday conversation; 'decaf' can be used as either an adjective or a noun.

Antonyms
  • caffeinated

    opposite meaning; describes a drink that still contains its natural caffeine.

  • regular

    commonly used to mean 'not decaffeinated' when ordering coffee.

Grammar Patterns

decaffeinated + noun

verb + decaffeinated

Usage Note

Commonly used before nouns for drink types (coffee, tea, espresso) or the category noun 'version'/'variety'. Can also appear predicatively: 'This coffee is decaffeinated.'

Common Mistakes

I ordered a decaffeinated.' (when meaning the noun drink).
I ordered a decaffeinated coffee.
when used as an adjective, 'decaffeinated' must be followed by a noun (coffee, tea, etc.) unless you are using it as a noun itself.
This is a decaffeinated coffee so it has zero caffeine.
This is a decaffeinated coffee, but it still has a tiny amount of caffeine.
decaffeinated drinks still contain trace amounts of caffeine; they are not completely caffeine-free.

decaffeinated — noun

IPA/diːˈkæfɪneɪtɪd/
KK[dikˈæfənˌetɪd]IPA/diːˈkæfɪneɪtɪd/

Word family

  • caffeine
    nounB1
  • caffeinated
    adjectiveB1
  • decaffeinate
    verbB2
  • decaffeination
    nounC1
  • decaf
    adjectiveB1
  • decaf
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three describe drinks with little or no caffeine, but they differ in register and scope. 'Decaffeinated' is the formal, full-length term used on product labels and in official descriptions, and it refers specifically to a drink that originally contained caffeine and has had most of it removed through a chemical process. 'Caffeine-free' is a broader term that can apply to any product — including sodas, snacks, or medicines — that naturally or artificially contains no caffeine, so a caffeine-free soda that was never caffeinated is not called 'decaffeinated'. 'Decaf' is the informal, conversational shortening of 'decaffeinated' and is by far the most common word people use when ordering coffee or chatting about their drink choices. For example, a restaurant menu might say 'decaffeinated coffee' but a customer will simply ask 'Do you have decaf?'

decaffeinated ↗caffeine-freedecaf

Common collocations

Nouns

  • decaffeinated coffee
  • decaffeinated tea
  • decaffeinated version
  • decaffeinated variety
  • decaffeinated espresso
  • decaffeinated beans

Adverbs

  • fully decaffeinated
  • naturally decaffeinated

Phrases

  • switch to decaffeinated
  • offer a decaffeinated option
  • drink decaffeinated coffee

Etymology

German/FrenchEnglish

The word 'decaffeinated' is formed by adding the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'removal') to 'caffeine' (the natural stimulant found in coffee and tea), plus the adjective suffix '-ed'. 'Caffeine' itself entered English in the early 1800s from German 'Koffein' or French 'caféine', which was built from French 'café' (coffee). The first commercial decaffeination process was developed in 1903 by German coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius, and the adjective 'decaffeinated' began appearing in English around the 1920s as the product became available to consumers.

First known use

1921

1921, in the meaning defined above