addiction

[uh-dik-shuhn]

noun

1. the state of being compulsively committed to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

addiction

1. A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses.

2. See more at withdrawal

3. A habitual or compulsive involvement in an activity, such as gambling.

Sensitive Note

See addict.

Other Word Forms

• overaddiction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of addiction¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin addictiōn- (stem of addictiō ) “a giving over, surrender”; addict, -ion

Example Sentences

Former Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams' international career is over after he entered a rehabilitation programme to treat drug addiction, the country's cricket association has announced.

Read more on BBC

Perry struggled with addiction and spoke openly about his experiences with substance abuse and his recovery efforts in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But once I get up there and you’re with the band and the audience in front of you, there’s an addiction to it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chinese authorities have insisted that pressure from Washington on fentanyl aims to make their country a scapegoat for the U.S.’s own shortcomings in addressing a domestic addiction crisis.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I try to sucker other people into the game so I’m not alone in my addiction,” he says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal