GATEWAY DRUG

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs

Example:

one college athlete recently called beer a gateway drug for young people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gateway drug" is a kind of...):

drug of abuse; street drug (a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction)

Credits