# heroin

/ˈhɛɹoʊən/ (US) · /hˈɛɹəʊˌɪn/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the drug

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a powerful and illegal drug made from opium that people often inject or smoke.

For teachers: a potent, highly addictive semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine; it is classified as a Schedule I narcotic in many jurisdictions.

- The police arrested the man for selling heroin near the park.
- Public health officials are implementing new harm-reduction strategies to combat the rising number of heroin overdoses in urban areas.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable only in specific forensic or chemical contexts.

Teaching tip: Learners frequently confuse the spelling of this drug with 'heroine' (a female hero). Note that the drug never has an 'e' at the end.

## Examples

- The police arrested the man for selling heroin.
- Public health officials are working to reduce the number of deaths caused by heroin overdoses in the city.
- The documentary explores the devastating impact of heroin addiction on rural communities, focusing on the lack of accessible rehabilitation centers for those seeking recovery.

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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.