# intoxication

/ˌɪnˌtɑksəˈkeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɪntˌɒksɪkˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intoxication
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

the state of being drunk or under the influence of drugs. It can also mean a feeling of great excitement or power.

For teachers: the state of being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished. In a figurative sense, refers to a state of extreme exhilaration or euphoria.

## Examples

- The driver was arrested for public intoxication.
- The legal definition of intoxication varies by region, usually depending on the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream.
- The young entrepreneur seemed blinded by the intoxication of sudden success, failing to notice the structural weaknesses that were beginning to undermine his business empire.

## Usage notes

- Often used in legal or medical contexts to describe physical impairment; takes 'with' in figurative contexts ('intoxication with power').

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