English Explanatory Dictionary

addictive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Causing or tending to cause addiction; habit-forming.
  2. Enjoyable, so that one comes back for more.
  3. Characterized by or susceptible to addiction.
noun
  1. A drug that causes an addiction.
  2. Anything that is very habit-forming.

Pronunciation

/əˈdɪktɪv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-addictive.wav

Word forms

addictive more addictive most addictive addictives

Etymology

First attested 1914. Addiction in modern sense is first attested 1906, in reference to opium. There is an isolated instance from 1779, with reference to tobacco.

Synonyms

habit-forming moreish

Antonyms

nonaddictive

Related words

addict addicted addicting addiction

Derived words

addictively addictiveness addictive personality addictivity antiaddictive subaddictive unaddictive
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