methadone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Medical, clinical, public health, journalistic.
Quick answer
What does “methadone” mean?
A synthetic opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder, particularly addiction to heroin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A synthetic opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder, particularly addiction to heroin.
A long-acting opioid agonist used medically for pain management and as a replacement therapy in opioid addiction treatment programmes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'methadone clinic' and 'methadone maintenance'. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Similar negative societal connotations in both varieties, associated with urban drug problems.
Frequency
Frequency is comparable, appearing in medical, policy, and news contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “methadone” in a Sentence
be prescribed methadonebe on methadonereceive methadone treatmentadminister methadoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “methadone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Rare as a verb]
American English
- [Rare as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [No adverbial form]
American English
- [No adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- [Rare as a pure adjective; used in compounds like 'methadone-related deaths']
American English
- [Rare as a pure adjective; used in compounds like 'methadone-funded clinic']
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceuticals or healthcare administration.
Academic
Common in medical, pharmacological, public health, and social policy research.
Everyday
Used in general discussion of drug addiction and treatment, often with negative overtones.
Technical
Core term in addiction medicine and pain management.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “methadone”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “methadone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “methadone”
- Misspelling as 'methadonne' or 'methadon'.
- Using as a general term for any addiction treatment.
- Confusing it with buprenorphine or other opioid treatments.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, methadone is itself an addictive opioid, but its long-acting nature and controlled administration in medical settings make it a safer alternative to street opioids like heroin, used to stabilise patients and reduce harmful behaviours.
Both are used in medication-assisted treatment. Methadone is a full opioid agonist, while buprenorphine is a partial agonist, which means it has a lower risk of overdose but may be less effective for some patients with severe addictions.
If misused, especially by those without opioid tolerance, methadone can produce euphoria and is dangerous. In a controlled clinical dose for a tolerant patient, it prevents withdrawal without causing a significant 'high'.
Controversy stems from the view that it perpetuates addiction rather than promoting complete abstinence. There are also concerns about diversion to the illicit market and the social impact of methadone clinics in communities.
A synthetic opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder, particularly addiction to heroin.
Methadone is usually medical, clinical, public health, journalistic. in register.
Methadone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmeθ.ə.dəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmeθ.ə.doʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
METH-Adone: Think of it as a medical method to be 'done' with heroin addiction.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADDICTION IS A DISEASE / TREATMENT IS A SUBSTITUTE (a 'crutch' or 'replacement').
Practice
Quiz
Methadone is primarily used to treat addiction to which substance?