GATEWAY DRUG

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gateway drug mean? 

• GATEWAY DRUG (noun)
  The noun GATEWAY DRUG has 1 sense:

1. a habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs

  Familiarity information: GATEWAY DRUG used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GATEWAY DRUG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

one college athlete recently called beer a gateway drug for young people

Hypernyms ("gateway drug" is a kind of...):

drug of abuse; street drug (a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction)