dopamine

American  

[doh-puh-meen] / ˈdoʊ pəˌmin /

noun

• dopamines
  plural

1. Biochemistry. a catecholamine neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, retina, and sympathetic ganglia, acting within the brain to help regulate movement and emotion: its depletion may cause Parkinson's disease.

2. Pharmacology. a dopamine preparation used to increase the force of contraction of the heart in the treatment of shock.

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dopamine British  

/ ˈdɒpəmɪn /

noun

1. a chemical found in the brain that acts as a neurotransmitter and is an intermediate compound in the synthesis of noradrenaline. Formula: (HO) 2 C 6 H 3 (CH 2 ) 2 NH 2

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dopamines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dopamine

First recorded in 1955–60; see origin at dopa, amine

Compare meaning

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

• dopamine vs. serotonin

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dopamine dopamines

“There’s definitely a dopamine hit when you’re looking for these deals” and you find what you are looking for, she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

"This unpredictability triggers the dopamine system, creating a compulsive cycle of seeking and anticipation," University of Leicester lecturer Quynh Hoang wrote.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

The cost of phone fatigue was not worth the short-term dopamine hit of my bird congratulating me on taking three deep breaths today.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

Animals that had elevated SETD7 levels when they were young developed more reactive dopamine neurons and showed more anxious behavior than mice whose SETD7 levels remained normal throughout life.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

And not just that, the subjects who performed better at the game had greater increases in dopamine.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

She likes babies: the thought of them fills her with dopamines and endorphins; and the inveterate shopper that she is, buying for them couldn't make her much higher.

From Tokyo to Tijuana: Gabriele Departing America by Steven (Steven David Justin) Sills