steroids
n. C / Un. powerful chemicals that can be used as medicine to reduce swelling or by some athletes to build muscle quickly. You often hear about them in sports news or when someone has a bad skin rash.
n. synthetic hormones used medically to reduce inflammation or illegally by athletes to enhance physical performance and muscle mass. Often used in the plural form when referring to the substances generally.
The doctor prescribed steroids to help with his severe asthma.
The athlete was banned from the competition after testing positive for performance-enhancing steroids.
While corticosteroids are essential for managing chronic inflammatory conditions, the misuse of anabolic steroids in professional sports remains a significant ethical and health concern.
Usually used in the plural; the singular 'steroid' is used as a modifier (e.g., 'steroid treatment').