methadone

noun

meth·​a·​done ˈme-thə-ˌdōn 

variants or less commonly methadon

ˈme-thə-ˌdän 

: a synthetic addictive narcotic drug C₂₁H₂₇NO used especially in the form of its hydrochloride for the relief of pain and as a substitute narcotic in the treatment of heroin addiction

Examples of methadone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Related: At Las Vegas conference, methadone clinics blast idea of doctors prescribing directly In the U.S., people with opioid use disorder can get methadone, an extremely effective therapy, only by physically visiting a methadone clinic every day. —Safina Adatia, STAT, 27 June 2024

Deaths in the United States from synthetic opioids other than methadone (the category that includes fentanyl) jumped from 3,105 in 2013 to 20,145 in 2016. —Keith Humphreys, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018

Interventions included increasing access to medications like methadone and buprenorphine by reducing restrictions, supporting health care providers, and working with jails and prisons. —Lev Facher, STAT, 16 June 2024

The church operates a methadone clinic with hundreds of patients, whom the Trump campaign expressed interest in talking with, Sewell said. —Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 15 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

methyl + amino + diphenyl + -one

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

methadone

noun

meth·​a·​done ˈmeth-ə-ˌdōn 

variants also methadon

-ˌdän 

: a narcotic drug C₂₁H₂₇NO that is used to replace heroin in the treatment of heroin addiction

Medical Definition

methadone

noun

meth·​a·​done ˈmeth-ə-ˌdōn 

variants also methadon

-ˌdän 

: a synthetic addictive narcotic drug used especially in the form of its hydrochloride C₂₁H₂₇NO·HCl for the relief of pain and as a substitute narcotic in the treatment of heroin addiction

called also amidone