kratom
Americannoun
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a Southeast Asian evergreen tree (Mitragyna speciosa) of the coffee family, whose leaves contain a psychoactive substance.
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the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, or the psychoactive substance they contain: used in various forms as a mood enhancer, pain reliever, etc., or in higher doses as a sedative with opioid-like effects.
Etymology
Origin of kratom
First recorded in 1920–25; from Thai krathom
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.
Pro-kratom groups like the American Kratom Association are pushing for bans against synthetics "posing as natural kratom".
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
The researchers also found notable differences among states based on how kratom is regulated.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
County Coroner Shante Sanchez, who investigated Rustici’s death, supports a full kratom ban.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
“You have these synthetics labeled as kratom; a lot of this is a misunderstanding,” he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
A California bill that would have imposed regulations on kratom products was quietly shelved Thursday following a clash between advocacy groups focused on the burgeoning industry.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2024
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
