heroin
noun
her·o·in
ˈher-ə-wən 
ˈhe-rə-
: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the U.S. but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects
Examples of heroin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nearly a decade ago, the Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, wanted to classify the active ingredients in kratom in the same category as heroin.
—
Hannah Chinn, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
Soren Shade, a kratom advocate and cofounder of kratom tea company Top Tree Herbs, says that the herb was likely brought stateside in the 1970s by Vietnam War veterans who had developed heroin habits while serving overseas, and were using kratom as a harm reduction tool.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
Grant has previously been convicted of felonies for harboring or aiding a felon and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Ever since the Controlled Substances Act was signed into law in 1970, federal regulators have grouped cannabis together with some of the most restricted drugs in America, such as heroin and LSD.
—Hannah Parker, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heroin
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Hannah Chinn, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
Soren Shade, a kratom advocate and cofounder of kratom tea company Top Tree Herbs, says that the herb was likely brought stateside in the 1970s by Vietnam War veterans who had developed heroin habits while serving overseas, and were using kratom as a harm reduction tool.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
Grant has previously been convicted of felonies for harboring or aiding a felon and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Ever since the Controlled Substances Act was signed into law in 1970, federal regulators have grouped cannabis together with some of the most restricted drugs in America, such as heroin and LSD.
—Hannah Parker, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heroin
Cite this Entry
“Heroin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroin. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heroin
noun
her·o·in
ˈher-ə-wən
: a strongly addictive drug made from the opium poppy and stronger than morphine
Medical Definition
heroin
noun
her·o·in
ˈher-ə-wən
: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the United States but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects
called also acetomorphine, diacetylmorphine, diamorphine
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