Narcotic Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of NARCOTIC

[count]

1

:

a drug (such as cocaine, heroin, or marijuana) that affects the brain and that is usually dangerous and illegal

• an addictive narcotic

— often plural

• He was arrested for selling narcotics.
• narcotics agents/detectives
• narcotics dealers/traffickers [=people who sell narcotics]

2

medical

:

a drug that is given to people in small amounts to make them sleep or feel less pain

• a mild narcotic

• narcotic addiction

• narcotic drugs

• The drug has a mild narcotic effect. [=the drug makes you feel slightly sleepy]