gateway drug

noun

: a drug (such as alcohol or marijuana) whose use is thought to lead to the use of and dependence on a harder drug (such as cocaine or heroin)

Examples of gateway drug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For many people, hearing Brian Wilson for the first time was a sort of gateway drug into a life devoted to music as a higher calling. —Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 13 June 2025

Are these self-help messages — which more young males need to learn — merely gateway drugs to more devious worldviews? —Andrew Reiner, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2025

Consider these as starting points, cinematic gateway drugs to the work of the most important filmmakers of all time. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025

Just as there are gateway drugs, there are gateway behaviors, too. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gateway drug

• antidrug
• mealybug
• multidrug
• chug
• doug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug

Kids Definition

gateway drug

noun

: a drug (as marijuana) whose use is thought to lead to the use of and dependence on a harder drug that is more addictive and harmful to health

Medical Definition

gateway drug

noun

gate·​way drug ˈgāt-ˌwā- 

: a drug (such as alcohol or marijuana) whose use is thought to lead to the use of and dependence on more dangerous, addicting substances (such as cocaine or heroin)

To end at the beginning, nicotine … is now considered a "gateway drug," as it commonly precedes and is comorbid with other substance use.

—Donald A. Henderson, The Journal of the American Medical Association