narcotics
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.illegal drugs that people use to change how they feel, which are often addictive.
n.illegal drugs, specifically those that affect the central nervous system; in a strict legal sense, it refers to opioids, though it is often used for any illicit drug.
Simple“The police arrested the man for selling narcotics near the park.”
In context“The international task force was established to disrupt the flow of narcotics across the border and dismantle the associated criminal networks.”
UsageUsually used in the plural form when referring to the drugs themselves.
Teacher's tipIn everyday conversation, people usually just say 'drugs'. 'Narcotics' is the word you will hear on the news, in police reports, or in legal documents.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to illegal drugs or the police departments that deal with them.
adj.pertaining to illicit psychoactive substances or the legal and enforcement frameworks surrounding them.
Simple“He works for the narcotics division of the city police.”
In context“The detective spent three years working undercover for the narcotics unit before returning to a standard patrol role.”
UsageOften used as an attributive adjective before nouns like 'officer', 'unit', or 'trafficking'.
Synonymsdrug related
“The authorities said they uncovered the network after four flight attendants arriving from Paris were found with narcotics hidden in toothpaste tubes.”
“According to the Justice Department, LBD distributed at least 340kg of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics and at least 2,200kg of cocaine in the last five years.”
From narcotic + -s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.