# addiction vs addictive

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### addiction
*noun · IPA /əˈdɪkˌʃən/ · frequency rank #5,656*
A state that is characterized by compulsive drug use or compulsive engagement in rewarding behavior, despite negative consequences.

### addictive
*adjective · IPA /əˈdɪktɪv/ · frequency rank #12,722*
Causing or tending to cause addiction; habit-forming.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/addiction-vs-addictive