addiction
noun/əˈdɪkˌʃən/
Etymology From addict + -ion; compare (Latin) addictio (“an adjudging, an award”).
1
Medicine, Sciences A state that is characterized by compulsive drug use or compulsive engagement in rewarding behavior, despite negative consequences.
- Do your lethal addictions to self-prescriptions numb the ache of the darkest days?2019, “Chemical Christ”, in Human Target (Deathcore), performed by Thy Art is Murder:
2
The state of being addicted; devotion; inclination.
3
A habit or practice that damages, jeopardizes or shortens one's life but when ceased causes trauma.
4
A pathological relationship to mood altering experience that has life damaging consequences.
- His addiction was to courses vain.1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
- Derived terms
- addiction-like, addictionlike, addictionology, alcohol addiction, antiaddiction, cyberaddiction, deaddiction, device addiction, drug addiction, internet addiction disorder, Internet addiction disorder, multiaddiction, multi-addiction, overaddiction, polyaddiction, pseudoaddiction, readdiction