skag: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialized slang, potentially offensive, regional/dialectal).Very informal, slang, often pejorative. Primarily associated with drug culture and youth/street slang.
Quick answer
What does “skag” mean?
Slang for heroin, especially of poor quality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Slang for heroin, especially of poor quality; also slang for an unattractive person, particularly a woman.
In nautical slang, refers to a scrap or remnant; in British slang (rare), can refer to a cigarette stub or a worthless person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The drug meaning is understood in both, but potentially more common in American slang. The "cigarette stub" or "old person" nuance is occasionally found in UK/Irish slang.
Connotations
Both carry strong negative connotations related to addiction, danger, or insult. The term is crude and stigmatizing.
Frequency
More frequent in specific subcultures (e.g., drug users, musicians, certain urban areas) than in general population. Not used in polite or formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “skag” in a Sentence
[Subject] is on/uses/shoots skag.He scored some skag.They called her a skag.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skag” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare) He's been skagging around all week, up to no good.
American English
- (Rare) They were skagging out in the abandoned warehouse.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Slang) That's a right skag joint, avoid it.
- He had a skaggy look about him.
American English
- (Slang) It was a skag apartment, used for shooting up.
- She gave him a skaggy glance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in sociological, criminological, or linguistic studies discussing slang.
Everyday
Avoid. Highly offensive and indicative of involvement in hard drug culture.
Technical
Not used. Medical/clinical terms like 'diacetylmorphine' or 'opioid' are preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skag”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Assuming it's a neutral term.
- Misspelling as 'scag' (which is a variant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is highly informal, associated with illicit drug use, and can be a severe insult when referring to a person. It should be avoided in standard communication.
'Heroin' is the standard, neutral term for the drug. 'Skag' is a slang term, often implying lower quality or a more gritty, street-level context.
Yes, but rarely. It can historically refer to a scrap or remnant (nautical), or a cigarette end. Its primary modern meanings are 'heroin' and an offensive term for an unattractive person.
Both use the drug/insult meanings. Some very rare, additional slang senses (like 'cigarette end') might be more British/Irish, but the core slang meanings are pan-varietal.
Slang for heroin, especially of poor quality.
Skag is usually very informal, slang, often pejorative. primarily associated with drug culture and youth/street slang. in register.
Skag: in British English it is pronounced /skæɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /skæɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Tied to the skag (addicted).”
- “Skagged out (under the influence of heroin or extremely tired).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'tag' of 'SKAg' - a 'SKetchy tAG' on a bag of poor-quality heroin.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUBSTANCE IS FILTH (poor quality, dirty), PERSON IS WORTHLESS OBJECT (used-up stub).
Practice
Quiz
In which context might you encounter the word 'skag'?