What does addictive mean?
"Addictive" is an adjective describing something that causes addiction — a compulsive need for and dependence on it. In its primary sense, it applies to substances such as nicotine, alcohol, or opioids that produce physical or psychological dependence with repeated use. By extension, it describes activities and experiences so enjoyable or compelling that people find them hard to give up: an addictive video game, an addictive novel, or an addictive habit. The word derives from the Latin addicere, meaning "to assign or devote," via "addict." While medically neutral, "addictive" often carries a cautionary tone in everyday speech, suggesting that something may be harmful or deliberately engineered to hold attention. It pairs naturally with intensifiers like "highly" or "extremely," and its related forms include the noun "addiction," the noun "addict," and the adjective "addicted," which describes the affected person rather than the cause. Understanding the distinction between "addictive" and "addicted" is essential for precise use.
adjectiveCausing a strong physical or psychological dependence on a substance or activity; also, more broadly, extremely enjoyable and hard to stop doing, watching, or consuming.
- Of a substance: causing physical or psychological dependence when consumed regularly.
- Of an activity or experience: so enjoyable or compelling that it is difficult to stop.
"The series was so addictive that she finished all eight episodes in one weekend."
"Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known."
"The puzzle game proved addictive, costing him hours he'd planned to spend working."
The word "addictive" comes from the Latin addicere — literally "to award or devote" — because Roman debtors were legally "given over" to their creditors as slaves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of addictive
"Addictive" traces back to the Latin verb addicere, meaning "to award, assign, or devote," formed from ad- ("toward") and dicere ("to say or declare"). In Roman law, the past participle addictus described a debtor formally assigned to a creditor, effectively enslaved. The term passed into English in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, initially meaning devoted or given over to someone or something, before narrowing toward compulsive dependence. The adjective "addictive" emerged later, in the 19th century, alongside growing medical awareness of drug dependence. It shares this Latin root with "addiction," "addict," and, more distantly, words built on dicere such as "dedicate."
Related word forms
How addictive is actually used
Neutral in medical and scientific contexts when describing substances, but often carries a mildly negative connotation when applied to food, apps, or media, implying manipulative design. The figurative sense ("an addictive TV show") is informal to neutral register and very common in modern usage.
Easily confused with addictive
"Addictive" describes something that causes addiction (the drug is addictive), while "addicted" describes the person who has become dependent on it (he is addicted).