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noun

detox

DEE-toks

Detox (noun) means the process of clearing harmful substances such as alcohol or drugs from the body. Example: “He checked into a detox clinic after years of heavy drinking.”

noun
1
The process of clearing harmful substances such as alcohol or drugs from the body.
"He checked into a detox clinic after years of heavy drinking."
verb
1
To go through this process.
"She decided to detox for a month after the holidays."

How to use detox

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGetting harmful substances (or sometimes just excess like sugar or alcohol) out of your system.

When to use it

Informal in everyday use ("juice detox"); more clinical when referring to addiction treatment.

Common pairings
detox clinic go on a detox detox from alcohol

Word forms

detoxed past tense, detoxes plural, detoxes singular

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He checked into a _____ clinic after years of heavy drinking.

Etymology

A shortened form of "detoxification".

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “detox” mean?

The word “detox” means the process of clearing harmful substances such as alcohol or drugs from the body. In plain terms, getting harmful substances (or sometimes just excess like sugar or alcohol) out of your system.

How do you pronounce “detox”?

“Detox” is pronounced DEE-toks (/ˈdiːtɒks/ in IPA).

How do you use “detox” in a sentence?

Here is “detox” used in a sentence: “He checked into a detox clinic after years of heavy drinking.”

What part of speech is “detox”?

Depending on how it is used, “detox” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “detox” have?

“Detox” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of clearing harmful substances such as alcohol or drugs from the body.

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