addiction

American  

[uh-dik-shuhn] / əˈdɪk ʃən /

noun

addictions plural

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.

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addiction British  

/ əˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. the condition of being abnormally dependent on some habit, esp compulsive dependency on narcotic drugs

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addiction Scientific  

/ ə-dĭk′shən /

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.

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Sensitive Note

See addict.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overaddiction
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• addictions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of addiction

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

Explanation

An addiction is an abnormally strong craving for something, which can sometimes grow so strong you have trouble living without it. People will sometimes use the word addiction casually, like, "I have a major addiction to chocolate! Yummy!" But the word's true meaning is more serious, and refers to something that isn't so yummy, like an alcohol or drug addiction. When someone has an addiction to smoking, for example, they might not be able to stop smoking even if it causes them to get sick.

Example Sentences

Maybe this ban will save children from the hungry maw of social media addiction.

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026

"In particular, with conditions such as addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder we see a difficulty in breaking habits and shifting behavior. So, understanding the mechanics of behavioral flexibility may one day help us develop better treatments."

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

From one angle or another, I’ve been writing about the intersection of homelessness, mental illness and addiction for a couple of decades, and I still have a lot to learn.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

US actor Tom Hanks has said the latest Toy Story film highlights children's addiction to screens, an issue that he says strikes "terror in the heart".

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Since he had begun to show up regularly at Hobie’s, he had found a minor addiction to the small talk among the regulars who drifted in after the grill opened after seven in the morning.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy