Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

breathalyze

verb

ˈbrɛθəˌlaɪz

Definition

To test a person’s blood alcohol content through a breath test, using a device called a breathalyzer.

Examples

The police officer decided to breathalyze the driver after noticing erratic behavior.
Many states require breathalyzing at roadside checkpoints during drunk driving prevention campaigns.
He refused to breathalyze after being pulled over, which can lead to penalties.

Meaning

Breathalyzing is commonly used by law enforcement to determine if a driver is under the influence of alcohol by measuring the amount of alcohol in a person’s breath.