heroin

noun her·o·in \ ˈher-ə-wən , ˈhe-rə- \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of heroin

: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C₂₁H₂₃NO₅ that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the U.S. but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects

—

heroinism

play \ˈher-ə-wə-ˌni-zəm, ˈhe-rə-\ noun

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Recent Examples of heroin from the Web

Unfortunately, what Clay doesn’t see is that Justin is now using heroin.

— refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: 13 Reasons Why, Season 2," 18 May 2018
Dakym Murray, 24, of Haverhill was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute heroin, Boston police said in a statement.

— laney ruckstuhl, BostonGlobe.com, "Police seize unlicensed gun, cocaine, and heroin in Mattapan traffic stop," 17 May 2018
Barnes' previous convictions include aggravated flight from an officer, stemming from a 2015 guilty plea, possession of heroin from a 2014 guilty plea, and possession of marijuana from a 2013 guilty plea, court records show.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "Arrested man accused in Mardi Gras quintuple shooting that killed 2," 17 May 2018
Researchers in the late 1990s examined hundreds of heroin deaths in San Francisco and discovered that 5 percent took place in restrooms.

— john keilman, chicagotribune.com, "Public bathrooms become clandestine epicenter of opioid crisis," 17 May 2018
Visits to the Emergency Room related to opioid or heroin overdoses leapt by 90 percent in Whiteside County between 2010 and 2015, Illinois Department of Public Health records show.

— bill myers, Chicago Reader, "Officials hope much-hyped drug can slow state's opioid crisis, but is it worth the costs?," 16 May 2018
His death was ruled a homicide caused by asphyxia by strangulation, complicated by heroin intoxication, according to attorneys.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Hobart woman serving life sentence for boyfriend's death gets 65 years for husband's murder," 16 May 2018
At the time, Robinson was supposedly carrying a white powdered substance, which Lopinto said was believed to be heroin.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "A Black Man Died During an Arrest in Louisiana; A Local Coroner Has Ruled the Death as Homicide by ‘Asphyxia’," 15 May 2018
Michael Miller, 39, conspired to smuggle heroin from Guatemala through Mexico and into Rhode Island, prosecutors said.

— cameron knight, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati man pleads guilty in international heroin conspiracy," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heroin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of heroin

from Heroin, a trademark

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1898

in the meaning defined above

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HEROIN Defined for English Language Learners

heroin

noun

Definition of heroin for English Language Learners

: a powerful illegal drug that is made from morphine

HEROIN Defined for Kids

heroin

noun her·o·in \ ˈher-ə-wən \

Definition of heroin for Students

: a very harmful illegal drug that is highly addictive and is made from morphine

Medical Dictionary

heroin

noun her·o·in \ ˈher-ə-wən \

medical Definition of heroin

: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C₂₁H₂₃NO₅ that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the United States but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects — called also acetomorphine, diacetylmorphine, diamorphine

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heroin

Definition of heroin

heroinism

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heroin

Definition of heroin for English Language Learners

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heroin

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heroin

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heroinism

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