addiction
uh-DIHK-shuhn
Addiction (noun) means a strong, often harmful, compulsion to keep using a substance or repeating a behavior, even when it causes problems. Example: “Many people struggle with an addiction to their phones without realising how much time it takes.”
noun
1
A strong, often harmful, compulsion to keep using a substance or repeating a behavior, even when it causes problems.
"Many people struggle with an addiction to their phones without realising how much time it takes."
"His addiction to alcohol cost him his job."
"The clinic specializes in treating gambling addiction."
How to use addiction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA compulsive dependency on something that's hard to give up despite the harm it causes.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
drug addiction
battle an addiction
addiction treatment
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Word forms
- Plural
- addictions
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Many people struggle with an _____ to their phones without realising how much time it takes.
Etymology
From addict plus -ion. Ultimately from Latin addictio, originally a legal term for a court "awarding" someone as bound to another's service.
Related words
Rhymes for addiction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for addiction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “addiction” mean?
The word “addiction” means a strong, often harmful, compulsion to keep using a substance or repeating a behavior, even when it causes problems. In plain terms, a compulsive dependency on something that's hard to give up despite the harm it causes.
How do you pronounce “addiction”?
“Addiction” is pronounced uh-DIHK-shuhn (/əˈdɪkˌʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “addiction” in a sentence?
Here is “addiction” used in a sentence: “His addiction to alcohol cost him his job.”
What part of speech is “addiction”?
“Addiction” is a noun.
Where does the word “addiction” come from?
The word “addiction” comes from Latin. From addict plus -ion. Ultimately from Latin addictio, originally a legal term for a court "awarding" someone as bound to another's service.
Is “addiction” a common word?
“Addiction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between an addiction and a habit?
A habit is a routine behaviour you can usually stop without much difficulty, while an addiction is a strong, often harmful compulsion that continues even when it causes clear problems. The defining feature of addiction is the loss of control: the person keeps using a substance or repeating a behaviour despite the damage it does.
What is the difference between addiction and dependence?
Dependence describes the body needing a substance to function normally, often producing withdrawal symptoms when it is stopped. Addiction is broader, involving a compulsive drive to keep using or repeating something despite harmful consequences, and it can apply to behaviours as well as substances.
Can you have an addiction to a behaviour rather than a substance?
Yes. Addiction refers to a compulsion to keep repeating a behaviour, not only to using a substance, so people speak of gambling, gaming, or shopping addictions. The common thread is that the behaviour is continued even when it causes problems.
What preposition follows addiction?
Addiction is normally followed by "to": an addiction to nicotine, an addiction to gambling. You would not say "addiction of" a substance.
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