adˈdiction
C1Neutral to formal; used in medical, psychological, journalistic, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A compulsive, physiological and/or psychological dependence on a substance (e.g., drugs, alcohol) or behaviour (e.g., gambling, gaming) that continues despite harmful consequences.
A state of being compulsively devoted to or controlled by something, often used metaphorically to describe an intense, habitual enthusiasm for an activity or thing (e.g., 'an addiction to social media').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a loss of control and negative impact on life. The metaphorical/extended use ('TV addiction') is common but technically a colloquialism; clinical contexts require evidence of dependency and harm.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Usage frequencies for metaphorical extensions ('shopping addiction') may be slightly higher in American media.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations in both varieties when referring to substances. The metaphorical use can sometimes be mildly hyperbolic or humorous.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
addiction to [noun/gerund] (e.g., addiction to heroin, addiction to shopping)have/suffer from/develop an addictionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fighting the demon (of addiction)”
- “in the grip of addiction”
- “hooked on something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts like 'consumer addiction to smartphones' or HR policies on substance abuse.
Academic
Common in psychology, medicine, and sociology papers discussing etiology, treatment, and social impact.
Everyday
Very common for discussing serious substance issues and, informally, for strong habits ('I have a coffee addiction').
Technical
Used with specific diagnostic criteria (e.g., in DSM-5: Substance Use Disorder).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He is addicted to watching football.
- They became addicted after the first dose.
American English
- She's addicted to reality TV.
- He got addicted to painkillers after his surgery.
adverb
British English
- The game is addictively fun.
- She played the slot machines addictively.
American English
- The show is addictively entertaining.
- He shops addictively online.
adjective
British English
- The addictive nature of social media is concerning.
- She has an addictive personality.
American English
- The game has highly addictive gameplay.
- He's in an addictive cycle of behaviour.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has a chocolate addiction.
- Smoking is a bad addiction.
- She is trying to overcome her addiction to social media.
- Drug addiction can destroy families.
- The clinic specialises in treating various behavioural addictions.
- There is a growing concern about addiction to prescription medication.
- The neurobiological underpinnings of addiction are complex and multifaceted.
- His addiction precipitated a profound personal and financial crisis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ADDiction' starts like 'ADD' – when you're addicted, you feel you constantly need to ADD more of the substance/activity to your life.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADDICTION IS A CAPTOR / SLAVE MASTER ('in the grip of addiction', 'enslaved by addiction'), ADDICTION IS A DISEASE ('battling addiction', 'recovering from addiction').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'аддикция' in everyday speech; it's a clinical term. Use 'зависимость' (zavisimost') which is the standard equivalent for both clinical and general contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'addiction' for any strong liking (overuse weakens the term's serious meaning). Incorrect preposition: 'addiction of' instead of 'addiction to'. Confusing 'addiction' with 'habit' (a habit can be broken easily; an addiction implies dependency).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'addiction'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it's usually metaphorical or hyperbolic. In a strict clinical sense, addiction requires negative life consequences, so 'exercise addiction' would only be a formal diagnosis if it caused significant harm (e.g., injury, social isolation).
In technical medical contexts, 'physical dependence' refers to adaptation leading to withdrawal symptoms. 'Addiction' is a broader behavioural concept involving compulsive use despite harm, craving, and loss of control. They often overlap but are not identical.
It is recognised as a behavioural addiction ('Internet Gaming Disorder') by the WHO and some psychiatric manuals, though it is a topic of ongoing research and debate. It shares core features with substance addictions: loss of control, preoccupation, continued use despite problems.
The standard preposition is 'to' (addiction to drugs, addiction to gambling).