narcotic

[nahr-kot-ik]

noun

1. any of a class of substances that blunt the senses, as opium, morphine, belladonna, marijuana, and alcohol, that in large quantities produce euphoria, stupor, or coma, that when used constantly can cause habituation or addiction, and that are used in medicine to relieve pain, cause sedation, and induce sleep.

2. any controlled substance, whether sedative or stimulant.

   Airports need security solutions that can effectively detect concealed explosives and narcotics.

3. anything that exercises a soothing or numbing effect or influence.

   Television is a narcotic for many people.

adjective

1. of or having the power to produce narcosis, as a drug.

2. pertaining to or of the nature of narcosis.

3. of or relating to narcotics or their use.

4. used by, or in the treatment of, narcotic addicts.

narcotic

/ nɑːˈkɒtɪk /

noun

1. any of a group of drugs, such as heroin, morphine, and pethidine, that produce numbness and stupor. They are used medicinally to relieve pain but are sometimes also taken for their pleasant effects; prolonged use may cause addiction

2. anything that relieves pain or induces sleep, mental numbness, etc

3. any illegal drug

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating narcotics

2. of or relating to narcotics addicts or users

3. of or relating to narcosis

narcotic

1. Any of a group of highly addictive analgesic drugs derived from opium or opiumlike compounds. Narcotics can cause drowsiness and significant alterations of mood and behavior.

Other Word Forms

• narcotically adverb
• antinarcotic adjective
• antinarcotics adjective
• nonnarcotic adjective
• prenarcotic adjective
• pseudonarcotic adjective
• seminarcotic adjective
• subnarcotic adjective
• unnarcotic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of narcotic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun narcotic, narkotik, Medieval Latin narcōticum, from Greek narkōtikón, noun use of neuter of narkōtikós “benumbing,” equivalent to narkō- (stem of narkoûn “to benumb” + -tikos adjective suffix; narco-, -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of narcotic¹

C14: via Medieval Latin from Greek narkōtikós, from narkoūn to render numb, from narkē numbness

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, the insurgents are building on their tightening grip on the rest of the country and taxing gold and narcotics transiting through Africa from Latin America to Europe.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The LAPD’s organized retail task force and gang and narcotics unit worked with local police agencies, including in Newport Beach, Pasadena, Alhambra, Beverly Hills and San Diego.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a statement on X, Hegseth said the four vessels hit on Monday "were known by our intelligence apparatus, transitioning along known narco-trafficking routes and carrying narcotics".

Read more on BBC

In a statement, police said the narcotics were hidden in the hold of the boat, which was flying a Tanzanian flag and had departed from Panama en route to Vigo, in north-west Spain.

Read more on Barron's

And while they support efforts to fight the narcotics trade, they say it is poor fishermen who are paying the price of overzealous enforcement.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anesthetic 
• dope 
• hard drug 
• heroin 
• merchandise 
• opiate 
• opium 
• painkiller 
• sedative 
• tranquilizer