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

Recent Examples on the Web

Alcohol and recreational drugs, as well as certain medications used to treat mental illness, such as antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotics, also appear to increase mental health vulnerability to heat. —Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 2 June 2025

For those looking to optimize sperm for conception, Dr. Lee advised minimizing or eliminating alcohol, not smoking or taking recreational drugs. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025

Musk has a history of recreational drug use, The Wall Street Journal reported last year. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025

Musk has previously admitted his history of recreational drug use. —Nik Popli, Time, 30 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recreational drug

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

Medical Definition

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