# DEA

/ˈdi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dea
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. U.S. drug agency

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

Stands for Drug Enforcement Administration. It is the American government group that stops illegal drugs from being sold or moved.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Drug Enforcement Administration. A United States federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act.

- The DEA worked with local police to stop the illegal drug shipment at the border.
- The DEA conducted a multi-state investigation into the pharmaceutical supply chain to identify points of diversion for controlled substances.

Usage: Usually preceded by 'the' when referring to the agency as a whole.

Teaching tip: Learners should recognize this as a specific U.S. agency; in other countries, terms like 'narcotics squad' or 'anti-drug unit' are more common.

### 2. chemical compound

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

A chemical used in some soaps and shampoos to make them thick or foamy.

For teachers: Abbreviation for diethanolamine. An organic compound used as a surfactant, pH adjuster, or thickening agent in industrial and consumer products.

- Check the label on your shampoo to see if it contains DEA.
- The laboratory report indicated that the concentration of DEA in the industrial solvent exceeded safety guidelines.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the chemical substance.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized chemical term; unless the student is a chemist or reading ingredient labels, the law enforcement sense is far more common.

## Examples

- The DEA agents arrested the drug smugglers at the border.
- After months of undercover work, the DEA successfully dismantled the international trafficking ring operating out of the city's main port.
- The DEA coordinates with international law enforcement agencies to disrupt the global supply chains of synthetic opioids and other controlled substances.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.