Junkie
/ˈdʒʌŋki/
Definitions
2 meaningsA person addicted to a specific substance, often an illegal drug. Colloquially used and considered offensive by some.
/ˈdʒʌŋki/
A person with a strong addiction.
The detective interviewed a former junkie to gather information about the drug ring.
💡 Simply: A junkie is someone who can't stop using drugs. It's like when you really, really want to play a game or eat candy, but this is much more serious and can make people very sick.
👶 For kids: A junkie is a grown-up who is really, really sick because they keep using drugs.
More Examples
He spent years as a junkie, losing everything to his addiction.
The film tells the story of a junkie's struggle for recovery.
How It's Used
"The movie depicted the struggles of a heroin junkie."
"Rehabilitation centers help junkies overcome their addiction."
Informally, a person who has an excessive interest in or dependence on something.
/ˈdʒʌŋki/
A person enthusiastic about a particular activity or thing.
She's a fitness junkie, always at the gym.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, people use 'junkie' to describe someone who really loves something, like a 'chocolate junkie' or a 'travel junkie'. It means they can't get enough of it!
👶 For kids: If you really, really, really love something and can't stop doing it, you might be a _____ junkie!
More Examples
He's a history junkie, constantly reading about the past.
I'm a coffee junkie – I can't function without it.
How It's Used
"A news junkie who can't stop checking the headlines."
"He's a movie junkie, seeing every film that comes out."
From 'junk' (originally meaning 'old rope, cordage'), with the suffix '-ie' denoting a person associated with the thing. The usage evolved to refer to those addicted to drugs.
Historically, 'junk' referred to refuse or discarded material. Its connection to addiction seems to have grown out of the association with low-quality or discarded substances used to achieve a high.
Memory tip
Think of a person whose life is consumed by getting their 'junk' - the drug.