# drug

/ˈdɹəɡ/ (US) · /dɹˈʌɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drug
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. medicine

noun · CEFR A2 · General-service

a chemical substance used as a medicine to treat an illness or injury.

For teachers: a substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease; a pharmaceutical agent.

- The doctor prescribed a new drug to help lower his blood pressure.
- Clinical trials are essential to ensure that any new drug is both effective and safe for public consumption before it reaches the market.

### 2. illegal substance

noun · CEFR B1 · General-service

an illegal or addictive substance that people take for pleasure or to change how they feel.

For teachers: a psychoactive substance, often illegal or controlled, used for recreational purposes rather than medical necessity.

- He was arrested for trying to sell illegal drugs in the park.
- The government has launched a new initiative to combat the rising use of synthetic drugs among young adults in urban areas.

### 3. addictive activity

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

something that you feel you cannot stop doing or using because it makes you feel good.

For teachers: metaphorical extension referring to any activity, emotion, or substance that creates a dependency or compulsive need.

- For many people, social media has become a digital drug that they check constantly.
- The adrenaline rush of high-stakes gambling became a drug for him, eventually leading to his financial ruin.

### 4. drugstore

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

a short way of saying 'drugstore' — a shop where you buy medicine and beauty products.

For teachers: an elliptical form of 'drugstore', common in North American English to refer to a retail pharmacy.

- I need to stop by the drug to pick up some aspirin and shampoo.
- In many small towns, the local drug serves as a central hub for both medical supplies and basic household necessities.

### 5. to give someone a drug

verb · CEFR B2

to give someone a drug, often secretly, to make them sleepy or unconscious.

For teachers: to administer a sedative or intoxicating substance to a person, typically without their knowledge or consent.

- The thieves tried to drug the guard by putting something in his coffee.
- The victim suspected that someone had managed to drug her drink during the crowded party, as she had no memory of the evening.

## Examples

- The doctor gave me a drug to help with the pain.
- Researchers are testing a new drug that might help people sleep better without feeling tired the next day.
- The pharmaceutical industry invests billions into the development of a single drug, navigating rigorous clinical trials before the product reaches the public market.

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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.