heroin

noun

her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən How to pronounce heroin (audio)
ˈhe-rə-
: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the U.S. but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects
heroinism noun

Examples of heroin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The effect may be harmful (heroin) or not (ibuprofen). Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 That case stemmed from him selling heroin to a police informant in 2018, and firing back at someone who shot at him in May 2019, according to court records. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Stanley had been arrested and booked into jail for a violation of the conditions of his supervised release stemming from a federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Like much of the nation, San Diego County has been grappling with skyrocketing rates of overdoses and deaths attributed to the powerful synthetic opioid, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, 100 times stronger than morphine and can be lethal in tiny doses. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2024 The Rojos ran a nice little business, moving drugs like heroin into the United States. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 Last year became San Francisco’s deadliest for drug overdoses, and in Los Angeles, fentanyl — the synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin — became the leading cause of the city’s rising overdose deaths. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Communications intercepted from six of these phones led to the seizure of an additional 40 pounds of methamphetamine, over 14 pounds of fentanyl, 9.5 pounds of heroin, and 8.5 pounds of cocaine. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heroin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from Heroin, a trademark

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heroin was in 1898

Dictionary Entries Near heroin

Cite this Entry

“Heroin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

heroin

noun
her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən How to pronounce heroin (audio)
: a strongly addictive drug made from the opium poppy and stronger than morphine

Medical Definition

heroin

noun
her·​o·​in ˈher-ə-wən How to pronounce heroin (audio)
: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the United States but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects

called also acetomorphine, diacetylmorphine, diamorphine

More from Merriam-Webster on heroin

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