performance-enhancing drug

noun

: a substance (such as an anabolic steroid, human growth hormone, or erythropoietin) that is used illicitly to improve athletic performance

In the United States, more than 1 million elite and recreational athletes use performance-enhancing drugs for muscle building purposes.

—Josiah D. Rich et al.

…33 of the 48 major and minor league players suspended by baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs since the start of 2006 were pitchers.

—Sean Gregory

Roger Bannister, the first person to run a subpar four-minute mile, said today he thought that increased use of blood testing could help curb the use of performance-enhancing drugs by track and field athletes.

—The New York Times

—abbreviation PED

Examples of performance-enhancing drug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It's also been boosted by the return of Jose Alvarado, who was suspended for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy and will be suspended again during a likely playoff run. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025

Many suspect Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs during his career to give him an advantage over his opponents. —Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025

The president went on to recognize MLB’s steroids era and dismissed Clemens’ connections to performance-enhancing drugs. —Bob Harkins, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025

However, his entire career came into question after he was accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs in 2012. —Emily Krauser, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for performance-enhancing drug

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