narco

¹

[nahr-koh]

noun

Slang.

plural

narcos 

1. narc.

narco-

²

1. a combining form meaning “stupor,” “narcosis,” used in the formation of compound words.

   narcodiagnosis.

narco-

combining form

1. indicating numbness or torpor

   narcolepsy

2. connected with or derived from illicit drug production

   narcoeconomies

Word History and Origins

Origin of narco¹

Shortening of narcotic; -o

Origin of narco²

< Greek nárk ( ē ) numbness, stiffness + -o-

Word History and Origins

Origin of narco¹

from Greek narkē numbness

Example Sentences

The Colombian survivor of a US attack on a suspected narco submarine in the Caribbean was released without charge after being treated for his injuries, authorities told AFP on Tuesday.

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So-called narco submarines -- in reality, vessels that are only partly submerged in the water -- have for years been used to ferry cocaine from South America, particularly Colombia, to Central America or Mexico, usually via the Pacific Ocean.

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“Returning to the war against el narco is not an option,” Sheinbaum told reporters Monday, referring to the bloody anti-crime offensive launched almost two decades ago.

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“And if anyone challenges el narco, like the mayor of Uruapan did, they will kill him.”

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Tough measures against narco gangs, typically pushed by Brazil's right, are gaining traction in a country weary of violence, after the deadliest police operation in the history of Rio de Janeiro laid bare the scale of its battle with organized crime.

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When To Use

What does narco- mean?

Narco- is a combining form used like a prefix referring to narcosis. In some instances, narco- is used to refer to various aspects of the trade of illegal drugs trade, i.e., narcotics.Narcosis is a state of stupor or drowsiness, especially as induced by narcotics. Narcotics include drugs such as opiates, heroin, marijuana, and alcohol.Narco- is often used in medical and scientific terms, including in pathology and psychiatry, and often refers to narcotic drugs.Narco- comes from the Greek nárkē, meaning “numbness, stiffness.”Note that narco and narc are slang for a government agent or detective charged with the enforcement of laws restricting the use of narcotics.Both narco and narc are shortened from narcotic, which as you may have guessed, also comes from the Greek nárkē. Narc is sometimes spelled as nark and, while the two terms somewhat overlap in slang sense, nark as slang for “informer” comes from a completely different origin than narcotic. Discover its surprising source at our entry for nark.What are variants of narco-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, narco- becomes narc-, as in narcoma.