performance-enhancing

American  

[per-fawr-muhns en-han-sing, -en-hahn-sing] / pərˈfɔr məns ɛnˌhæn sɪŋ, -ɛnˌhɑn sɪŋ /

adjective

1. noting or relating to a drug or other substance used to improve one's performance in a sport or other activity requiring strength, stamina, etc..

   The use of performance-enhancing steroids by athletes is banned.

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Etymology

Origin of performance-enhancing

First recorded in 1975–1980

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

performance-enhancing

Scott Christensen, lead endurance instructor for USA Track & Field, says while he appreciates the potential performance-enhancing qualities of bouncy foam and carbon springboards, “everything has a cost-benefit ratio to it.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Joe Vennare, founder of Fitt Insider, which analyses the health and wellness industry, feels normalising performance-enhancing drugs will bring unknown health and cultural consequences.

From BBC ● May 23, 2026

Great Elm Capital, a small BDC affiliated with the boutique investment bank Imperial Capital, used all of the performance-enhancing tactics in its $420 million portfolio, and found itself with hefty exposure to First Brands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 21, 2025

In short, an AI — which has been described as smelling like cat urine — is a performance-enhancing substance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2025

Years ago, during an interview, he turned the tables and asked me how I felt about the 50-game suspension that the prodigious home-run hitter Manny Ramirez had received for violating baseball’s rules on performance-enhancing drugs.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2025

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