junkie

or junk·y

[juhng-kee]

See more synonyms for junkie on Thesaurus.com

noun Informal.

a drug addict, especially one addicted to heroin.
a person with an insatiable craving for something: a chocolate junkie.
an enthusiastic follower; fan; devotee: a baseball junkie.

Origin of junkie

First recorded in 1920–25; junk³ + -ie

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for junkie

Contemporary Examples

This junkie is about to begin a three-day, neo-African, sometimes-terrifying, ritualistic trip.
Hallucinating Away a Heroin Addiction
Abby Haglage
May 4, 2014
That is another way of saying that the junkie, unlike our “American business man,” knows himself.
American Dreams, 1953: ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs
Nathaniel Rich
June 27, 2013
A junkie, on the other hand, exists in a state of constant physical emergency.
American Dreams, 1953: ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs
Nathaniel Rich
June 27, 2013
A junkie uses only to avoid junk sickness, otherwise known as withdrawal.
American Dreams, 1953: ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs
Nathaniel Rich
June 27, 2013
The junkie knows life because he has an intimate knowledge of death.
American Dreams, 1953: ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs
Nathaniel Rich
June 27, 2013

Historical Examples

It was evident that Junkie had a will of his own, and was accustomed to exert it on all occasions.
The Eagle Cliff
R.M. Ballantyne
Junkie looked up with sparkling eyes, and said that Milly did it.
The Eagle Cliff
R.M. Ballantyne
“Nevertheless, it may not be fair to call it a lie, Junkie,” said Jackman.
The Eagle Cliff
R.M. Ballantyne
“Father never rose a fish there,” said Junkie, with a demure look.
The Eagle Cliff
R.M. Ballantyne
A little shriek of laughter burst from Junkie on hearing this.
The Eagle Cliff
R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for junkie

junkie

junky

noun plural junkies

an informal word for a drug addict, esp one who injects heroin into himself

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for junkie

n.

"drug addict," 1923, from junk (n.1) in the narcotics sense + -y (3). Junker in the same sense is recorded from 1922. Junk for "narcotic" is older.

junkie

or junk·y

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}junkie

Examples from the Web for junkie

Contemporary Examples

This junkie is about to begin a three-day, neo-African, sometimes-terrifying, ritualistic trip.

That is another way of saying that the junkie, unlike our “American business man,” knows himself.

A junkie, on the other hand, exists in a state of constant physical emergency.

A junkie uses only to avoid junk sickness, otherwise known as withdrawal.

The junkie knows life because he has an intimate knowledge of death.

Historical Examples

It was evident that Junkie had a will of his own, and was accustomed to exert it on all occasions.

Junkie looked up with sparkling eyes, and said that Milly did it.

“Nevertheless, it may not be fair to call it a lie, Junkie,” said Jackman.

“Father never rose a fish there,” said Junkie, with a demure look.

A little shriek of laughter burst from Junkie on hearing this.

junkie

junky

Word Origin and History for junkie

n.

Origin of junkie