opioid

American  

[oh-pee-oid] / ˈoʊ piˌɔɪd /

noun

Biochemistry, Pharmacology.

• opioids
  plural

1. an opiate, or any similar synthetic compound: formerly referring only to the latter, but now the predominant term for both the opium-derived and synthetically produced substances.

   Illicit use of the synthetic opioid fentanyl is on the rise.

   The opium poppy is the source for all natural opioids.

2. any opiumlike substance.

   Have any opioids been detected in poppies that do not contain opium?

3. any of a group of natural substances, as the endorphins, produced by the body in increased amounts in response to stress and pain.

---

adjective

1. pertaining to such a substance.

   opioid drugs such as heroin and oxycodone;

   opioid neuropeptides.

opioid British  

/ ˈəʊpɪˌɔɪd /

noun

1. 1. any of a group of substances that resemble morphine in their physiological or pharmacological effects, esp in their pain-relieving properties

   2. (modifier) of or relating to such substances

      opioid receptor

      opioid analgesic

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• opioids
  plural

Etymology

Origin of opioid

First recorded in 1955–60; opi(um) + -oid

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

opioid opioids

They narrowly voted to exclude emideltide, which has been considered for insomnia, narcolepsy and opioid withdrawal, with numerous other marketing claims including stress, pain and cancer.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Emideltide: The FDA committee largely voted “no” on this peptide, which has been promoted as a tool to address insomnia, narcolepsy and opioid withdrawal.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Even with those limitations, the researchers concluded, "Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher occurrence of moderate to severe postoperative pain and increased opioid consumption in patients undergoing unilateral modified radical mastectomy."

From Science Daily ● May 20, 2026

In addition, Molo’s firm represented the Cherokee Nation against opioid manufacturers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026

Administration fees in similar opioid victim funds, also run by Gentle, range from about 15% to more than one-quarter of the victims’awards, according to documents from those trusts.

From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026

The White House said the global exemption was being used to "evade tariffs and funnel deadly synthetic opioids" to the US.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Beginning with tobacco, they refitted the dusty doctrine as a battering ram and swung it at guns, lead paint, opioids and oil companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

About two decades ago, Turner said, the healthcare industry started acknowledging the limits and risks of prescribing opioids for chronic pain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

At the same time, they did not bind to commonly used medical opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, remifentanil and alfentanil.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 13, 2026

A federal judge on Tuesday delayed until next week the sentencing of Purdue on three felony charges related to paying kickbacks to doctors and reckless sales of its opioids.

From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026