addiction meaning and definition

ADDICTION noun

Definition of addiction (noun)

1. being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
   • synonyms: dependance, dependence, dependency, habituation
2. an abnormally strong craving
3. (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"