Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

junkie

American  
[juhng-kee] / ˈdʒʌŋ ki /
Or junky

noun

Slang.
  • junkies
    plural
  1. Disparaging and Offensive. a person addicted to drugs, especially one addicted to heroin.

  2. a person with an insatiable craving for something.

    a chocolate junkie.

  3. an enthusiastic follower; fan; devotee.

    a baseball junkie.


junkie British  
/ ˈdʒʌŋkɪ /

noun

  1. an informal word for a drug addict, esp one who injects heroin into himself

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of junkie

First recorded in 1920–25; junk 3 + -ie


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Investors and industry executives have spent years asking what Roberts, known as a deal junkie, would do next.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

But anyone who has followed the man’s career knows he’s a performance junkie.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026

For example, agents can talk about the latest game to a sports fan and about current events to a news junkie.

From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2026

Now you can be a cord-cutter and a TV news junkie too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2025

“If you throw yourself into danger for no reason again, you will have become nothing more than a Dauntless adrenaline junkie looking for a hit, and I’m not going to help you do it.”

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Skyhorse publishes a wide range of material including books for children, sports fans and political junkies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

After all, for some of us L.A. crime movie junkies, off-brand “Heat” is better than no “Heat” at all.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026

It could have been for any other market research exercise, for washing powder or water bills, rather than anything to do with Westminster - so it wasn't a gathering of political junkies.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2025

"Democracy" is a word that may sound soaring to political junkies, but feels bureaucratic and frankly bloodless to many others.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2024

“The object of attention. Nicole. Gossip junkies love the chase. End that, you end the story.”

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com