heroin

noun

her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən 

ˈhe-rə-

: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C₂₁H₂₃NO₅ that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the U.S. but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects

heroinism

ˈher-ə-wə-ˌni-zəm 

ˈhe-rə-

noun

Examples of heroin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scattered around the apartment were more than 50 envelopes of what appeared to be heroin — many marked with an ace of spades or ace of hearts. —Michelle Tauber, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025

But psychiatric nurse practitioner Sean Leonard, who focuses on addiction medicine, disagrees with any comparison between SSRIs and heroin. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025

He was hired to retool a script by the screenwriter Thomas Lee Wright based on the story of Nicky Barnes, the heroin lord of Harlem in the 1960s and ’70s. —Alex Williams, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025

The potential health department head has spoken openly about his heroin use. —Gabe Whisnant, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from Heroin, a trademark

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

heroin

noun

her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən 

: a strongly addictive drug made from the opium poppy and stronger than morphine

Medical Definition

heroin

noun

her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən 

: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C₂₁H₂₃NO₅ that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the United States but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects

called also acetomorphine, diacetylmorphine, diamorphine