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performance-enhancing

American  
[per-fawr-muhns en-han-sing, ‐en-hahn-sing] / pərˈfɔr məns ɛnˌhæn sɪŋ, ‐ɛnˌhɑn sɪŋ /

adjective

  1. noting or relating to a drug or other substance used to improve one's performance in a sport or other activity requiring strength, stamina, etc..

    The use of performance-enhancing steroids by athletes is banned.


Etymology

Origin of performance-enhancing

First recorded in 1975–1980

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“Next-generation devices increasingly incorporate new architectures and performance-enhancing layers. As a materials-discovery company, we are well positioned to benefit from these technology transitions,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 28, 2026

Joe Vennare, founder of Fitt Insider, which analyses the health and wellness industry, feels normalising performance-enhancing drugs will bring unknown health and cultural consequences.

From BBC May 23, 2026

"It's crazy to think that to get a world record without a suit and without any performance-enhancing drugs, as a clean athlete, the bonus is zero dollars," said McEvoy.

From BBC Mar. 25, 2026

Years ago, during an interview, he turned the tables and asked me how I felt about the 50-game suspension that the prodigious home-run hitter Manny Ramirez had received for violating baseball’s rules on performance-enhancing drugs.

From Salon Jun. 13, 2025

It was obvious to anyone who followed baseball closely in the 1990s and early 2000s that Sosa’s achievements were allegedly aided by performance-enhancing drugs.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 19, 2024

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