addict
AD-ihkt
Addict (noun) means a person who is dependent on a harmful substance and cannot easily stop using it. Example: “The clinic offers support for recovering addicts.”
noun
1
A person who is dependent on a harmful substance and cannot easily stop using it.
"The clinic offers support for recovering addicts."
"He became an addict after years of using painkillers."
"Nobody can force an addict to stop, but friends can offer steady support."
2
(informal) A person with a strong enthusiasm for something.
"She's a self-confessed chocolate addict."
"He's a total news addict, checking headlines every hour."
"My brother is a gadget addict who queues up for every new release."
verb
1
To cause someone to become dependent on something, or to become dependent oneself.
"The drug is designed to relieve pain without addicting the patient."
"Doctors worry that some of these medicines can addict patients within weeks."
"He was afraid he might addict himself to the game if he kept playing every night."
How to use addict
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who is dependent on a substance, or, loosely, someone with an intense enthusiasm for something.
When to use it
The casual sense ("chocolate addict," "gym addict") is informal and much lighter than the clinical meaning.
Common pairings
drug addict
recovering addict
self-confessed addict
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like addict.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- addicts
- Third person singular
- addicts
- Past tense
- addicted
- Comparative
- more addict
- Superlative
- most addict
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The clinic offers support for recovering _____.
Etymology
From Latin addictus, past participle of addicere, "to award or bind someone to something" — originally a legal term for a court assigning a person to another's service.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “addict” mean?
The word “addict” means a person who is dependent on a harmful substance and cannot easily stop using it. In plain terms, someone who is dependent on a substance, or, loosely, someone with an intense enthusiasm for something.
How do you pronounce “addict”?
“Addict” is pronounced AD-ihkt (/ˈæd.ɪkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “addict” in a sentence?
Here is “addict” used in a sentence: “The clinic offers support for recovering addicts.”
What is another word for “addict”?
Words with a similar meaning to “addict” include abuser, fiend, wastoid, consecrate, dedicate and devote.
What is the opposite of “addict”?
The opposite of “addict” — its antonyms — are abstainer, mainstreamer and nonaddict.
What part of speech is “addict”?
Depending on how it is used, “addict” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “addict” come from?
The word “addict” comes from Latin. From Latin addictus, past participle of addicere, "to award or bind someone to something" — originally a legal term for a court assigning a person to another's service.
Is “addict” a common word?
“Addict” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between an addict and someone who is addicted?
Addict is a noun referring to a person dependent on a harmful substance or, informally, someone with a strong enthusiasm for something, such as a "chocolate addict." Addicted is the adjective describing the state of being dependent, as in "he is addicted to the substance."
Is calling someone an addict considered informal or clinical?
When addict refers to substance dependence it can sound blunt or informal, and many clinical and public health contexts now prefer phrases like "person with an addiction." The informal sense, describing strong enthusiasm for a hobby or activity, is casual and non-clinical.
Can addict be used as a verb as well as a noun?
Yes, addict can function as a verb meaning to cause someone to become dependent on something, or to become dependent oneself, though the noun form is far more common in everyday use. The verb form appears mainly in more formal or explanatory writing.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include addict:
