gateway drug

[ geyt-wey druhg ]

noun

1. any drug, as a stimulant or tranquilizer, whose use may lead to the use of more dangerous or addictive drugs such as heroin.

gateway drug

noun

1. a recreational drug such as cannabis, the use of which is believed by some to encourage the user to try stronger drugs

Word History and Origins

Origin of gateway drug¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

If art NFTs are the gateway drug, then the potential applications of this technology for metaverse creation is the end goal.

From Time

Many marine biologists identify a gateway drug into their obsession, and for Heather Koldewey, it was the seahorse.

From Nautilus

For many people, mobile was their gateway drug into VR in the form of inexpensive, cardboard boxes designed to project VR content off of a smartphone.

From Popular-Science

Plus it is clear that plastic surgery is a gateway drug for those both so inclined and so well-heeled.

From The Daily Beast

But I do like the notion of same-sex marriage as a liberation gateway drug.

From The Daily Beast

“For the girls who have never bought a business book, I think this can be the gateway drug,” Amoruso says.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, various media outlets have re-reported what has effectively been a faux gateway-drug story for at least 10 years.

From The Daily Beast

The second major critique is that boycotting the settlements represents a kind of gateway drug to boycotting all of Israel.

From The Daily Beast