ped

1 of 4

noun

ˈped 

: a natural soil aggregate

ped-

2 of 4

combining form

variants or pedo- or paed- or paedo-

: child

pediatric

: childhood

paedogenesis

PED

3 of 4

abbreviation or noun

ˌpē-ˌē-ˈdē 

plural PEDs

: performance-enhancing drug

PEDs can turn a marginal player into a major leaguer, and transform a marginal major leaguer into an All-Star.

—Dave DeLand

… has never tested positive for using PEDs, but is under investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency …

—Andre Williams

-ped

4 of 4

noun combining form

variants or -pede

: foot

quadruped

Examples of ped in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Abbreviation or noun

The sprinting, swimming and weightlifting event that allows athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs held its inaugural event in Las Vegas, where organizers had hyped the competition as a PED-friendly Olympics with high drama, big purses and shattered records. —Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 30 May 2026

McMahon served as interim director McMahon, a nine-year City Hall staffer who has been closely involved in the Highland Bridge project and development around Allianz Field, has served as the interim PED director since the departure of Nicolle Newton last September. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026

Either way, the record doesn’t actually count because of Gkolomeev’s PED use and his high-tech suit that is outlawed in the sport. —Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 26 May 2026

Pitcher Edinson Volquez of the Reds is suspended for 50 games for failing a PED test during spring training. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026

Tatis began his career as a shortstop but has not played there since his 2023 return from multiple arm surgeries and a PED suspension. —Dennis Lin, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026

With his appeal denied, Rojas became the second major leaguer to be slapped with a lengthy suspension, though Atlanta Braves star Jurickson Profar will be forced to miss the entire 2026 season after getting a 162-game suspension for his second PED offense. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026

News of the outfielder’s (alleged) positive PED test and his (pending) full-season suspension hit with all the tenderness of a two-buck tenderloin. —Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026

Rojas is the third Phillies player to fail a PED test over the past year. —Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek pedon ground; akin to Latin ped-, pes foot — more at foot

Combining form

Greek paid-, paido-, from paid-, pais child, boy — more at few

Noun combining form

Latin ped-, pes

First Known Use

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above

Abbreviation Or Noun

2001, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

PED

abbreviation or noun

ˌpē-ˌē-ˈdē 

: a performance enhancing drug : a substance (such as an anabolic steroid or human growth hormone) that is used illicitly especially to improve athletic performance