opioid

1 of 2

noun

opi·​oid ˈō-pē-ˌȯid 

plural opioids

: a natural, semisynthetic, or synthetic substance that typically binds to the same cell receptors as opium and produces similar narcotic effects (such as sedation, pain relief, slowed breathing, and euphoria):

a

or less commonly opioid peptide : any of various of endogenous polypeptides (such as an endorphin or enkephalin) produced by neurons of the peripheral and central nervous system

The people who rated pain the lowest were those whose brains began producing natural painkillers called opioids the fastest …

—John O'Neil

b

: any of various opiates (such as morphine), semisynthetic opiate derivatives (such as heroin, hydrocodone, or oxycodone), or synthetic preparations (such as fentanyl or methadone) that may be used illicitly for their narcotic properties and are associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 4a(1)), physical and psychological dependence, or addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

… fentanyl, a synthetic opioid at least 75 times more potent than morphine.

—Ryan Trimble and Eric S. Peterson

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist used for the treatment of heroin addiction.

—Scientific American

The prototypical opioids are morphine and codeine (which is milder than morphine).

—Harvard Health Letter

When Walker County was identified as the epicenter of Alabama's opioid crisis, it was no surprise to residents who watched as drugs brought death and devastation down upon their families, neighbors and communities.

—Ashley Remkus

Note: The word opioid was originally used only for morphine-like substances not derived from opium, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural or synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate cell receptors and induces sedation, analgesia, and euphoria.

opioid

2 of 2

adjective

: possessing narcotic properties characteristic of opiates : of, relating to, involving, or being an opioid

opioid drugs

opioid addiction

endogenous opioid endorphins

opioid cell receptors

Examples of opioid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

New Jersey provides a limit of a five-day supply of opioids to stabilize chronic pain and in Pennsylvania the limit is seven days and other states have no limits, Turner said. —USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

Other possible treatments include an opioid injection. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024

And those positive outcomes were greater than those associated with nonpharmacological treatments (exercise therapy, yoga, massage therapy, spinal manipulation, acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy), opioid therapy, and lumbar spine surgery. —Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024

There are several excellent medications for opioid use disorder that dramatically reduce cravings and subsequent use. —Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 9 Apr. 2024

Second, much of the reduction in life expectancies for poor Americans is related to the opioid crisis, which primarily impacts Americans under 65. —Karl W. Smith, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

Without medical treatment, a person must consistently use opioids to curb the incredibly painful, and sometimes deadly, opioid withdrawal. —Jim Vargas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024

The following year, a nurse at the facility pleaded guilty to tampering with the fentanyl meant for the women’s procedures, having replaced the opioid with saline. —Dr. Sharon Malone, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024

And only 1 in 5 people diagnosed with opioid use disorder take these medications. —Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 9 Apr. 2024

Adjective

Their expansion reflects a growing awareness that many survivors of opioid addiction and those who struggled with substance use during the pandemic are now enrolling in pursuit of a fresh start. —Leah Fabel, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024

The opioid crisis in the United States has been responsible for almost 645,000 deaths over the last two decades. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

The opioid crisis in the United States has led to countless lives ruined due to addiction, and millions of lives lost due to overdose. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Treatment for opioid addiction is increasing, except in the young Poison control center cases involving tianeptine exposure jumped from 11 total cases between 2000 and 2013 to 151 cases in 2020 alone, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. —Nathan Smith, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024

Drug overdose deaths, largely caused by the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl, reached record highs in the United States in 2021. —Mike Baker, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024

Naltrexone, used alone, was originally approved by the FDA as a treatment for opioid addiction and alcohol dependence. —David Snyder, Verywell Health, 30 Mar. 2024

Andrew Kolodny, a Brandeis University opioid policy researcher and founder of activist group Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, told STAT that the organization considered this route as well, amid mounting frustration with the agency’s opioid crisis response. —Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 28 Mar. 2024

Though rare, people can die from opioid withdrawal syndrome. —Lauren Peace, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

opium + -oid entry 1

Adjective

opium + -oid entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1957, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1967, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing opioid

• opioid peptide

Kids Definition

opioid

noun

opi·​oid ˈō-pē-ˌȯid 

: any substance that binds to the same cell receptors as opium, produces similar effects (as sleepiness and pain relief), includes drugs used medically especially as painkillers, is often used illicitly for its narcotic properties, and often causes physical and psychological dependence

Medical Definition

opioid

1 of 2 noun

ˈō-pē-ˌȯid 

: a natural, semisynthetic, or synthetic substance that typically binds to the same cell receptors as opium and produces similar narcotic effects (such as sedation, pain relief, slowed breathing, and euphoria):

a

also opioid peptide : any of various of endogenous polypeptides (such as an endorphin or enkephalin) produced by neurons of the peripheral and central nervous system

b

: any of various opiates (such as morphine), semisynthetic opiate derivatives (such as heroin, hydrocodone, or oxycodone), or synthetic preparations (such as fentanyl or methadone) that may be used illicitly for their narcotic properties and are associated with physiological tolerance (see tolerance sense 1), physical and psychological dependence, or addiction upon repeated or prolonged use

… fentanyl, a synthetic opioid at least 75 times more potent than morphine.

—Ryan Trimble and Eric S. Peterson

The prototypical opioids are morphine and codeine (which is milder than morphine).

—Harvard Health Letter

Note: The word opioid was originally used only for morphine-like substances not derived from opium, but it has now become widely accepted as a broader term encompassing any substance—natural or synthetic, opium-derived or not—that binds to opiate cell receptors and induces sedation, analgesia, and euphoria.

opioid

2 of 2 adjective

opi·​oid

: possessing narcotic properties characteristic of opiates : of, relating to, involving, or being an opioid

opioid drugs

opioid addiction

endogenous opioid endorphins

opioid cell receptors