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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

Former Great Britain sprinter Reece Prescod says he will not take performance-enhancing drugs despite signing up for the controversial Enhanced Games.

From BBC Jan. 13, 2026

In short, an AI — which has been described as smelling like cat urine — is a performance-enhancing substance.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 7, 2025

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

Even so, MYC is not likely to be the basis of a new therapy for sarcopenia or a performance-enhancing drug.

From Science Daily Dec. 3, 2024

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