Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Addiction has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
"His severe addiction to heroin left him unable to function without a daily dose of the narcotic."
an abnormally strong craving
"His addiction to sugar made it impossible for him to stop eating sweets even when he was full."
(Roman law) a formal award by a magistrate of a thing or person to another person (as the award of a debtor to his creditor); a surrender to a master
"under Roman law addiction was the justification for slavery"
A state that is characterized by compulsive drug use or compulsive engagement in rewarding behavior, despite negative consequences.
"His severe addiction to gambling led him to drain his savings and neglect his family despite the devastating impact on their lives."
In plain English: Addiction is when you can't stop doing something even though it hurts you.
"She struggled with an addiction to sugar that made her feel terrible every day."
Usage: Use this term to describe an uncontrollable urge to engage in behaviors like gambling or social media scrolling when the activity becomes harmful rather than just a strong preference. It applies specifically to situations where stopping causes significant distress or adverse outcomes for the individual.
The word addiction comes from the Latin root addictus, which originally meant to be devoted or given over completely. It entered English in the late 16th century through a combination of "ad-" and "dict," evolving from its legal sense into describing an overwhelming compulsion.