doper

noun

dop·​er ˈdō-pər How to pronounce doper (audio)
plural dopers
1
informal
a
: a person who frequently or habitually uses illicit drugs
He was a doper. He was loaded right now. Speed maybe. Or coke.Joseph Wambaugh
b
: a person who sells illicit drugs
"Dopers are right on the cutting edge of technology," says Jimmy Davis of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. "It used to be that you weren't a certified dope dealer unless you had a beeper. Now you're not a big-time dope dealer unless you're cellular."Terry E. Johnson et al.
2
informal : an athlete who uses performance-enhancing substances typically banned for use in sports
Already athletes from Great Britain and Australia who finished behind drug-using East Germans have begun asking Olympic officials to disqualify the dopers and rewrite the record books accordingly.Sports Illustrated
Human growth hormone is another protein, already widely abused by dopers, that builds muscle and aids recovery.Bicycling

Examples of doper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At the stationhouse, the two recent high school graduates were strip searched, and things weren’t looking good for a couple of longhaired dopers. Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 5 May 2023 Another 2003 drug-test revelation who copped to steroid use from 2001-2003, apologized profusely and then was exposed as a serial doper in the Biogenesis scandal, A-Rod debuted with just 34.3% of the vote. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2022 Gatlin, remembered as a one-time doper and five-time Olympic medalist, tested positive for a steroid in 2006 and was suspended for eight years. Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, 2 July 2021 That ability to pack an oxygen punch is what makes HBOCs a tempting target for a doper. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'doper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of doper was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near doper

Cite this Entry

“Doper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

doper

noun
dop·​er
ˈdō-pər
: a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally

Medical Definition

doper

noun
dop·​er ˈdō-pər How to pronounce doper (audio)
: a person who frequently or habitually uses illicit drugs
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