# narcotics

/nɑɹˈkɑtɪks/ (US) · /nɑːkˈɒtɪks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/narcotics
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. illegal drugs

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

illegal drugs that people use to change how they feel, which are often addictive.

For teachers: 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.

- The police arrested the man for selling narcotics near the park.
- The international task force was established to disrupt the flow of narcotics across the border and dismantle the associated criminal networks.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form when referring to the drugs themselves.

Teaching tip: In everyday conversation, people usually just say 'drugs'. 'Narcotics' is the word you will hear on the news, in police reports, or in legal documents.

### 2. relating to illegal drugs

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

relating to illegal drugs or the police departments that deal with them.

For teachers: pertaining to illicit psychoactive substances or the legal and enforcement frameworks surrounding them.

- He works for the narcotics division of the city police.
- The detective spent three years working undercover for the narcotics unit before returning to a standard patrol role.

Usage: Often used as an attributive adjective before nouns like 'officer', 'unit', or 'trafficking'.

## Examples

- The police are working to stop the sale of illegal narcotics.
- The hospital keeps all narcotics in a locked cabinet to prevent unauthorized access to these powerful painkillers.
- International law enforcement agencies collaborate to disrupt the supply chains of synthetic narcotics, which have significantly higher potency and risk profiles than traditional plant-based derivatives.

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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.