illicit drug

Meaning

1. 1nouncountableformallaw

   A substance, such as heroin or cocaine, whose making, sale or possession is forbidden by law.

   Grammar: Takes an or an: an illicit drug; plural illicit drugs is more usual.

   Patterns

   • traffic in illicit drugs
   • use of illicit drugs

   Police seized a large quantity of illicit drugs at the port.

   The study tracks the use of illicit drugs among teenagers.

   Selling an illicit drug carries a prison sentence in most countries.

Word forms

Common combinations

use illicit drugs

The survey asks whether people use illicit drugs.

trade in illicit drugs

Gangs trade in illicit drugs.

possession of illicit drugs

He was arrested for possession of illicit drugs.

illicit drug use

Illicit drug use fell last year.

smuggle illicit drugs

They tried to smuggle illicit drugs across the border.

Synonyms and how they differ

illegal drug

Illegal drug is the everyday phrase, while illicit drug sounds more formal and official.

narcotic

Narcotic refers to a type of strong painkilling drug and is not always illegal.

controlled substance

Controlled substance is a legal term and includes prescription drugs that are regulated.

contraband

Contraband covers any smuggled goods, not just drugs.

Opposites

Word family

illicit adjective

forbidden by law or custom

illicitly adverb

in a forbidden way

licit adjective

allowed by law, rare

drug noun

a substance that affects the body

Commonly confused: illicit drug or elicit?

Practice

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