date-rape drug

noun

variants or date rape drug
: a drug (such as GHB or ketamine) placed secretly usually in the drink or food of a potential victim to induce a state (such as confusion, physical weakness, or unconsciousness) that makes the victim vulnerable to sexual assault and especially rape

Examples of date-rape drug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The city began distributing date-rape drug test kits Monday to venues that serve alcohol and to some patrons. Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022 After anecdotal concerns about a spate of druggings in West Hollywood, the city began distributing date-rape drug test kits to bars, restaurants, and other venues. Jamie Fiore Higgins, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2022 Coel plays Arabella Essiedu, a care-free Londoner whose life changes after her drink is spiked with a date-rape drug. Mark Kennedy, Star Tribune, 13 July 2021 The bill was amended to remove ketamine from the list; opponents said the chemical could be used as a date-rape drug. Justin Ray, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2021 Concerns were heightened by reports late last month that a lobbyist used a date-rape drug on a Capitol staffer during an off-site incident. Cayla Harris, San Antonio Express-News, 13 May 2021 In the spring of 2018, the board learned that a senior vice-president had prepared a lawsuit accusing a colleague of giving her a date-rape drug. Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2020 The University of New Mexico is handing out coasters to students that could detect date-rape drugs in drinks. Alexis Grace and Anika Myers Palm, CNN, 18 Oct. 2019 The University of New Mexico's Office of Substance Abuse Prevention is giving away coasters that could detect two of the most common date-rape drugs. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 18 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'date-rape drug.' 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

1995, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of date-rape drug was in 1995

Dictionary Entries Near date-rape drug

Cite this Entry

“Date-rape drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/date-rape%20drug. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

date-rape drug

noun
variants or date rape drug
: a drug (as GHB or flunitrazepam) administered surreptitiously (as in a drink) to induce an unconscious or sedated state in a potential date rape victim

Legal Definition

date rape drug

noun
: a drug (as GHB) administered surreptitiously (as in a drink) to induce an unconscious or sedated state in a potential date rape victim
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