Addiction: meaning, definitions and examples

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addiction

 

[ əˈdɪkʃ(ə)n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental health

The fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity.

Synonyms

craving, dependency, obsession.

Examples of usage

  • He has a long history of addiction to alcohol.
  • Addiction to social media can have negative effects on mental health.
  • Many people struggle with addiction to drugs and need help to overcome it.
Context #2 | Noun

medical

A brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences.

Synonyms

compulsion, substance dependence.

Examples of usage

  • Drug addiction is a serious medical condition that requires treatment.
  • The neurobiology of addiction involves changes in brain circuitry.

Translations

Translations of the word "addiction" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dependência

🇮🇳 नशा

🇩🇪 Sucht

🇮🇩 ketergantungan

🇺🇦 залежність

🇵🇱 uzależnienie

🇯🇵 依存症

🇫🇷 addiction

🇪🇸 adicción

🇹🇷 bağımlılık

🇰🇷 중독

🇸🇦 إدمان

🇨🇿 závislost

🇸🇰 závislosť

🇨🇳 上瘾

🇸🇮 odvisnost

🇮🇸 fíkn

🇰🇿 тәуелділік

🇬🇪 დამოკიდებულება

🇦🇿 asılılıq

🇲🇽 adicción

Etymology

The word 'addiction' originated from the Latin word 'addictio', which meant a formal giving over; the surrender of property or a person. In the context of addiction to substances or activities, the term gained prominence in the 20th century with the rise of substance abuse issues. Today, addiction is recognized as a complex brain disorder with psychological, social, and environmental factors influencing its development and treatment.

See also: addicted, addictive.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #9,633 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.