steroid

noun

ste·​roid ˈster-ˌȯid 

also

ˈstir- 

plural steroids

: any of various compounds containing a 17-carbon 4-ring system and including the sterols and numerous hormones (such as anabolic steroids or corticosteroids) and glycosides

ACTH travels in the bloodstream to the adrenal cortex and causes the release of steroids.

—Lester Grinspoon et al.

asthma and COPD treated with synthetic steroids

often, specifically : anabolic steroid

an athlete taking/using steroids

a steroid user

Their … reporting triggered a national wake-up call about steroid use that led to congressional hearings, and, at long last, steroid testing in baseball.

—Rick Reilly

see also steroid hormone

steroid adjective

or steroidal

stə-ˈrȯi-dᵊl 

see also on steroids

Examples of steroid in a Sentence

He was accused of taking steroids.

Recent Examples on the Web

And the pastas deliver, whether trofie, tiny twists of fresh pasta, with a vibrant green pesto or farfallone, essentially bowties on steroids, in a Calabrian chile butter with bits of smoky pancetta. —Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026

Anavar is the name-brand of an oral synthetic steroid sometimes used to promote weight gain and is widely considered a performance-enhancing drug. —Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026

Corticosteroids Grapefruit can raise the levels of certain oral corticosteroids (steroids) in the body. —Ross Phan, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026

While some of the best players in baseball history, like Alex Rodriguez, remain outside of Cooperstown due to their association with the sport’s steroid scandal (or because of gambling, like Pete Rose), these ten players were clean — and deserve their Cooperstown spots. —David Faris, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary sterol + -oid

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing steroid

• anabolic steroid
• steroid hormone

Rhymes for steroid

• alloyed
• android
• annoyed
• avoid
• centroid
• convoyed
• cuboid
• cycloid
• decoyed
• deployed
• dermoid
• destroyed

Kids Definition

steroid

noun

ste·​roid ˈstir-ˌȯid  ˈster- 

: any of various chemical compounds that include numerous hormones (as estrogen and testosterone) compare anabolic steroid

Medical Definition

steroid

noun

ste·​roid ˈsti(ə)r-ˌȯid 

also

ˈste(ə)r- 

: any of numerous natural or synthetic compounds containing a 17-carbon 4-ring system and including the sterols and various hormones and glycosides see anabolic steroid

steroid adjective

or steroidal

stə-ˈrȯid-ᵊl