recreational drug
noun
: a drug (such as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive
Examples of recreational drug in a Sentence
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Bowie was also a heavy indulger of booze and recreational drugs during that decade, which mirrored the character’s descent into the destructive nature of fame and fortune and humankind's lesser angels.
—
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 May 2026
Small amounts of the compound, shorthand for 7-hydroxymitragynine, occur naturally in kratom, which is increasingly used as a recreational drug and an unapproved pain treatment.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 11 May 2026
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine also encourages couples trying to conceive to avoid recreational drugs to maximize their chances of a healthy birth.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Scientists said the shark study findings highlight how pollutants commonly associated with human activity, including medications and recreational drugs, are making their way into ocean food webs.
—Jessica Botelho, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recreational drug
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Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 May 2026
Small amounts of the compound, shorthand for 7-hydroxymitragynine, occur naturally in kratom, which is increasingly used as a recreational drug and an unapproved pain treatment.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 11 May 2026
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine also encourages couples trying to conceive to avoid recreational drugs to maximize their chances of a healthy birth.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Scientists said the shark study findings highlight how pollutants commonly associated with human activity, including medications and recreational drugs, are making their way into ocean food webs.
—Jessica Botelho, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recreational drug
Cite this Entry
“Recreational drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreational%20drug. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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recreational drug
noun
rec·re·a·tion·al drug
ˌrek-rē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl- 
: a drug (as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive
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