junkie

American  

[juhng-kee] / ˈdʒʌŋ ki /

Or junky

noun

Slang.

plural

junkies

1. Disparaging and Offensive. a person addicted to drugs, especially one addicted to heroin.

2. a person with an insatiable craving for something.

   a chocolate junkie.

3. an enthusiastic follower; fan; devotee.

   a baseball junkie.

---

junkie British  

/ ˈdʒʌŋkɪ /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of junkie

First recorded in 1920–25; junk ³ + -ie

Example Sentences

But anyone who has followed the man’s career knows he’s a performance junkie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

“I don’t worry about the past, and I try to learn from my mistakes. I’m a data junkie, and I analyze the broad trends,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 3, 2026

“And what I meant by that was, he didn’t have all the hype but he was a football junkie, he had a passion for the game.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2025

I have to say I’m an awards-show junkie.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2025

“If you throw yourself into danger for no reason again, you will have become nothing more than a Dauntless adrenaline junkie looking for a hit, and I’m not going to help you do it.”

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

• addict
• drug abuser
• drug addict
• drug fiend
• narcotics addict