heroin

noun

her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən 

ˈhe-rə-

: 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

ˈher-ə-wə-ˌni-zəm 

ˈhe-rə-

noun

Examples of heroin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At twenty-four, the soprano ability gone, his coffers emptied by heroin and scammers, Lymon, in his addict’s senescence, spoke to a reporter from Ebony magazine; a year later, he would be found dead on his grandmother’s bathroom floor. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026

On July 14, police recovered narcotics, including crack, heroin and fentanyl, during a raid of Spatola’s Manhattan home. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

The hauls included 553 pounds of fentanyl, 36 pounds of heroin, 2,572 pounds of cocaine and 5,077 pounds of methamphetamine. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The first time Jacobs went to rehab for heroin and cocaine addiction was at the behest of Duffy in 1999. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from Heroin, a trademark

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heroin

• heroine

Kids Definition

heroin

noun

her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən 

: a strongly addictive drug made from the opium poppy and stronger than morphine

Medical Definition

heroin

noun

her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən 

: 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