methamphetamine

noun

meth·​am·​phet·​amine ˌme-tham-ˈfe-tə-ˌmēn 

-thəm-,

-mən

: a synthetic or semisynthetic compound C₁₀H₁₅N that stimulates the central nervous system, is used medically in the form of its crystalline hydrochloride C₁₀H₁₅N·HCl especially to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity, and that is often abused illicitly for its stimulant properties

… methamphetamine is a powerful addictive stimulant whose longtime consumers tend to suffer from paranoia, depression, hallucinations, and violent rages.

—William Finnegan

called also meth, methedrine, speed

compare crystal meth

Examples of methamphetamine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

More than a dozen workers at a Montana animal shelter were hospitalized last week after inhaling methamphetamine that officials burned in an on-site incinerator. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025

Chambers’ defense attorney, Abram Genser, argued any injuries Chambers may have inflicted were not life-threatening, and Dadkhah died instead of a brain bleed caused by excessive methamphetamine use. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025

The suspect, who was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and had an outstanding warrant, was arrested and booked into main jail. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025

Stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine may lead to overconfidence and aggressive driving. —Andrew Yockey, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing methamphetamine

• crystal methamphetamine

Kids Definition

methamphetamine

noun

meth·​am·​phet·​amine ˌmeth-am-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn 

: a drug derived from amphetamine that is often used illegally as a stimulant of the central nervous system

Medical Definition

methamphetamine

noun

meth·​am·​phet·​amine ˌmeth-am-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn, ˌmeth-əm-, -mən 

: an amine C₁₀H₁₅N that is used medically in the form of its crystalline hydrochloride C₁₀H₁₅N·HCl especially to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity and that is often abused illicitly as a stimulant

called also meth, methedrine, methylamphetamine, speed