dopamine

American  

[doh-puh-meen] / ˈdoʊ pəˌmin /

noun

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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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

NHS advice is clear: if you are taking dopamine agonist drugs and you have any concerns, you should speak to your doctor.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

“You can get that dopamine hit so much quicker and so much more often,” said Fields, who specializes in addiction psychology and biology.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

An older sister turns to sewing her bin of fabric scraps into a quilt top or putting together a jigsaw puzzle to get her dopamine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Whenever I’ve needed a dopamine boost lately, two sources haven’t let me down.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

When, for example, couples report feeling indescribably happy in each other’s presence, that’s dopamine, the pleasure hormone, doing its work.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon