amphetamine

American  

[am-fet-uh-meen, -min] / æmˈfɛt əˌmin, -mɪn /

noun

Pharmacology.

• amphetamines
  plural

1. a racemic drug, C 9 H 13 N, that stimulates the central nervous system: used chiefly to lift the mood in depressive states and to control the appetite in cases of obesity.

---

amphetamine British  

/ æmˈfɛtəˌmiːn, -mɪn /

noun

1. a synthetic colourless volatile liquid used medicinally as the white crystalline sulphate, mainly for its stimulant action on the central nervous system, although it also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. It can have unpleasant or dangerous side effects and drug dependence can occur; 1-phenyl-2-aminopropane. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH 2 CH(NH 2 )CH 3

---

amphetamine Scientific  

/ ăm-fĕt′ə-mēn′ /

1. Any of a group of drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, resulting in elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and other metabolic functions. Amphetamines are used in the treatment of certain neurological conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. The drugs are highly addictive and are sometimes abused.

---

amphetamine Cultural  

1. A drug that stimulates the central nervous system and is used to treat certain conditions, such as attention deficit disorder, depression, and narcolepsy.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• amphetamines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of amphetamine

First recorded in 1935–40; a(lpha) + m(ethyl) + ph(enyl) + et(hyl) + amine

Compare meaning

How does amphetamine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• amphetamine vs. dextroamphetamine

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

amphetamine amphetamines

Scientists noted, too, that amphetamine bore a chemical resemblance to dopamine, adding further weight to the connection between dopamine and schizophrenia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The songs of The Pogues are what happens when rural folk songs are hit over the head by the amphetamine punk spirit of 70s London.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2023

Similarly, methylphenidate, which is FDA-approved to treat narcolepsy, can also reduce amphetamine use.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2023

The U.S. is suffering a shortage of amphetamine mixed salts, an active ingredient used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, warned the Food and Drug Administration.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 14, 2022

There’s a neurochemistry of love that has been identified containing amphetamine and opiatelike substances—the chemical cocktail that is released when people fall in love.

From Scientific American ● May 2, 2018

The act permits doctors and pharmacists to dispense certain drugs such as opioids and amphetamines, categorized by their potential for abuse and medical value, even as it prohibits everyone else from doing so.

From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2022

Scheeler favors a tiered system of penalties in racing, similar to Major League Baseball having different penalties for use of steroids and amphetamines.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2021

“You can’t equate it with the classic forms of performance enhancers such as amphetamines or blood doping,” said Dr. Mary Scollay, executive director and chief operating officer at the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2021

And so someone with dementia would not be treated with amphetamines to get them more alert.

From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2020

In the report, the medical examiner determined via toxicology that Rivera had a small amount of prescribed amphetamines in her system, but did not identify physical conditions or drugs as factors in her death.

From Fox News ● Sep. 11, 2020

Related Words

• stimulant