junkie

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Also seen as: junky

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A narcotics addict, especially a heroin user.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Rats in the front room, roaches in the back / Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

An enthusiast of something.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “junkie” mean?

A narcotics addict, especially a heroin user.

Is “junkie” formal or informal?

junkie is generally derogatory, slang.