stimulant

American  

[stim-yuh-luhnt] / ˈstɪm yə lənt /

noun

1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. something that temporarily quickens some vital process or the functional activity of some organ or part.

   Adrenalin is a stimulant for the heart.

2. any food or beverage that stimulates, especially coffee, tea, or, in its initial effect, alcoholic liquor.

3. a stimulus or incentive.

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adjective

1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. temporarily quickening some vital process or functional activity.

2. stimulating.

stimulant British  

/ ˈstɪmjʊlənt /

noun

1. a drug or similar substance that increases physiological activity, esp of a particular organ

2. any stimulating agent or thing

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adjective

1. increasing physiological activity; stimulating

stimulant Scientific  

/ stĭm′yə-lənt /

1. An agent, especially a drug, that causes increased activity, especially of the nervous or cardiovascular systems. Caffeine is a commonly used stimulant.

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Other Word Forms

• antistimulant adjective
• nonstimulant noun

Etymology

Origin of stimulant

First recorded in 1720–30, stimulant is from the Latin word stimulant- (stem of stimulāns, present participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ant

Explanation

A stimulant is a drug that speeds up your body or an event that spurs you to action. Both types of stimulant get you going. You might drink coffee in the morning for a reason: the caffeine in coffee is a stimulant, which gives you energy and helps you wake up. Other stimulants are much more harmful, such as illegal drugs like cocaine, but all stimulants speed up your system. Also, a stimulant can be anything that arouses action. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, it was a stimulant that drove America into World War II.

Example Sentences

“It is a terrific stimulant of a sense of urgency.”

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Current treatments for attention disorders typically increase excitatory signaling in prefrontal brain circuits using stimulant medications.

From Science Daily • Jan. 2, 2026

“When a young person shows up with anxiety after starting a stimulant, that doesn’t mean that they have an anxiety disorder,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

So, Gomez sent them home with an antibiotic and an appetite stimulant.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2025

He reached for the week-old paper and read again the letter that was the great tonic and stimulant of the day: Hd Qrs.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

Related Words

• catalyst
• drug
• impetus
• stimulus