opium

noun

opi·​um ˈō-pē-əm 

1

: a bitter brownish addictive narcotic drug that consists of the dried latex obtained from immature seed capsules of the opium poppy

2

: something having an effect like that of opium

Examples of opium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As in Chiapas, the Jalisco New Generation cartel now dominates life in parts of Guerrero, driving entire populations from their villages to take over the territory for its drug trafficking operations and opium growing. —Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026

An opium-den-chic design scheme (jewel-toned velvet, studded leather, gothic wallpaper) gives the space an air of mystery, but the rooms are light and bright, with large windows and several with outdoor terraces. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Mar. 2026

Charles became an opium addict. —Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

The force dispatched to the southern Helmand province – a Taliban stronghold and a center of opium production – initially comprised mostly British and Danish troops, before the US sent reinforcements in 2008. —Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Latin, "latex of the opium poppy, drug made from this latex," borrowed from Greek ópion, diminutive of opós "plant juice, latex," going back (with generalization of Ionic loss of h-) to Indo-European *sok^wo-, whence also Old Church Slavic sokŭ "juice," Lithuanian sakaĩ "resin"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing opium

• opium poppy

Rhymes for opium

• europium

Kids Definition

opium

noun

opi·​um ˈō-pē-əm 

1

: a bitter brownish narcotic drug that causes addiction and is the dried juice of the unripe fruit capsule of the opium poppy

2

: something having an effect like that of opium

Medical Definition

opium

noun

opi·​um ˈō-pē-əm 

: a highly addictive drug that consists of the dried milky juice from the seed capsules of the opium poppy obtained from incisions made in the unripe capsules of the plant, that has a brownish yellow color, a faint smell, and a bitter and acrid taste, that is a stimulant narcotic usually producing a feeling of well-being, hallucinations, and drowsiness terminating in coma or death if the dose is excessive, that was formerly used in medicine to soothe pain but is now often replaced by derivative alkaloids (as morphine or codeine) or synthetic substitutes, and that is smoked illicitly as an intoxicant with harmful effects