opiate

1 of 2

noun

opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət  -ˌāt 

plural opiates

1

a

: an alkaloid drug (such as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 4a(1)), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

b

: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (such as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (such as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid sense 1

… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.

—The Economist

Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.

—Nicholas T. Zervas

Note: The use of opiate for substances that bind to opiate receptors but are not opium derivatives is often considered technically incorrect. Such substances are more commonly referred to as opioids. The word opioid itself was originally used only for these substances, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural, synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate receptors and has morphine-like activity.

2

: something likened to a drug that induces rest or inaction or quiets uneasiness

Operatic music is an opiate that lowers our critical guard and allows us to entertain views that our good liberal selves would disavow were they presented in naked prose.

—Paul Robinson

… the novel's real drug is the opiate of nostalgia. Richard, narrating the events at a distance of ten years, is still too in love with the friends to look at them with an even faintly critical eye.

—Ruth Franklin

opiate

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: containing or mixed with opium

b

: of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate

opiate receptors

2

a

: inducing sleep : narcotic

b

: causing dullness or inaction

Synonyms

Noun

• narcotic
• tranquilizer
• anesthetic
• tranquillizer

Adjective

• hypnotic
• narcotic

Examples of opiate in a Sentence

Noun

Many see television as an opiate of the masses.

a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people

Adjective

morphine is an opiate drug

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My niece and then my sister reached out to me because my niece has been using opiates heavily, which cost her a job and almost led to her being incarcerated. —R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 12 May 2025

Members of Hinge Health can access virtual exercise therapy and an electrical nerve stimulation device called Enso that’s designed to serve as an alternative to pain medications like opiates. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Officers deployed Narcan, a nasal spray commonly used to reverse the impacts of an opiate overdose, to those who were exposed, Waters said. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025

The second time was in 2019, when he was also charged with the possession of opiate, opium, narcotic, or certain stimulants. —Zuri Primos, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātum, from Latin opium opium + -ātum -ate entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin opiātus "soporific," from Latin opium opium + -ātus -ate entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun

opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət 

-ˌāt

1

: a drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is made from opium, tends to cause sleep and relieve pain, and causes physical and psychological dependence and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

broadly : opioid

2

: something restful or soothing

the opiate of sleep

opiate

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: containing or mixed with opium

b

: of, relating to, or being an opiate

2

a

: causing sleep

b

: causing dullness or idleness

Medical Definition

opiate

1 of 2 noun

opi·​ate ˈō-pē-ət  -ˌāt 

1

: an alkaloid drug (as morphine or codeine) that contains or is derived from opium, binds to cell receptors primarily of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, acts to block pain, induce sedation or sleep, depress respiration, and produce calmness or euphoria, and is associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 1), physical and psychological dependence, and addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

2

: a synthetic or semisynthetic drug (as fentanyl or methadone) or an endogenous substance (as beta-endorphin) that binds to opiate cell receptors and produces physiological effects like those of opium derivatives: opioid

… fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 90-100 times more potent than morphine.

—The Economist

Current peptide research has uncovered at least two groups of endogenous opiates in the CNS that modulate the perception of pain.

—Nicholas T. Zervas

Note: The use of opiate for substances that bind to opiate receptors but are not opium derivatives is often considered technically incorrect. Such substances are more commonly referred to as opioids. The word opioid itself was originally used only for these substances, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural, synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate receptors and has morphine-like activity.

opiate

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being opium or an opium derivative

2

: of, relating to, binding, or being an opiate

opiate receptors