Agency Dictionary
Opioid
nounPronunciation: /ˈoʊ.pi.ɔɪd/
In Portuguese: Opioide
Science & Health
Psychology & MindWhat does “Opioid” mean?
A substance that acts on nervous system receptors to numb pain, often used metaphorically for emotional desensitization.
Etymology
Formed in English from opium and the suffix -oid (from Greek -oeides, having the form of or resembling). Opium comes from Greek opion (poppy juice). The compound was coined in the mid-twentieth century specifically to distinguish substances that act on the same receptors as opiates but are not derived directly from the opium poppy, covering both natural and synthetic compounds.
Usage note
Opioid is the broader term, covering natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic compounds; opiate in strict usage refers only to natural derivatives of opium. In common speech the two words are often used interchangeably.
Synonyms
- narcotic
- analgesic
- opiate
Often confused with
- opiate
- An opiate is derived directly from the opium poppy; an opioid is any substance, natural or synthetic, that acts on the same type of receptors.
Word family
- opium
- opiate
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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