# narcotic

> English word · Noun · IPA /nɑːˈkɒtɪk/ · frequency rank #29,008

## Definitions
1. Any substance or drug that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour; in some contexts, especially in reference to the opiates-and-opioids class, especially in reference to illegal drugs, and often both.
2. Any type of numbing or soothing drug.

## Etymology
From Middle English narcotyk, from Middle French narcotique (from Old French narcotique, noun use of adjective) and directly from Medieval Latin narcōticum, from Ancient Greek ναρκωτῐκόν (narkōtĭkón), neuter of ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtĭkós), from Ancient Greek ναρκόω (narkóō, “to benumb”), from νάρκη (nárkē, “numbness, torpor”).

## Easily confused with
- **narcotics** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/narcotic-vs-narcotics)

## Common misspellings (12)
`anrcotic`, `nacrotic`, `narccotic`, `narcoitc`, `narcotci`, `narcoticc`, `narcottic`, `narctoic`, `naroctic`, `narrcotic`, `nnarcotic`, `nracotic`

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