DictionaryjunkIllegal drugs
noun

junk

Illegal drugs, especially heroin, in slang.

He admits that he still spends his paycheck on junk.

Etymology

Older junk meant worn rope and later discarded material. The drug slang reuses that word; its deeper origin is uncertain, and the Chinese vessel-name is separate.

More examples

  • She has been off junk for two years.
  • In the memoir, he uses "junk" as slang for heroin.
  • The counselor helps people who are trying to quit junk.

Similar words

heroin
Names a specific opioid rather than illegal drugs generally.
narcotics
A more formal term that can also include legal drugs.