addiction

[uh-dik-shuhn]

noun

1. the state of being compulsively committed to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

addiction

1. A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses.

2. See more at withdrawal

3. A habitual or compulsive involvement in an activity, such as gambling.

Sensitive Note

See addict.

Other Word Forms

• overaddiction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of addiction¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin addictiōn- (stem of addictiō ) “a giving over, surrender”; addict, -ion

Example Sentences

President Ford enjoyed the many emerald golf courses in his later years and his wife, former first lady Betty Ford, founded her namesake addiction treatment center in the desert valley.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The judgment comes after months of contentious hearings that uncovered scathing allegations about their relationship including accusations of infidelity, drug addiction and abuse.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Twitter was still a place for the early adopters of phone addiction: former forum-dwellers, professional athletes and journalists.

Read more on Salon

That would be Michôd’s addiction to montage-ifying every significant dramatic turning point, slathering on the music to keep the timeline moving.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the time, his mother struggled with addiction, and he and his siblings spent years living with various relatives in Wisconsin, on and off the Oneida reservation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal