overdose
OH-ver-dohs (noun), oh-ver-DOHS (verb)
/ˈoʊvərdoʊs/ (noun), /ˌoʊvərˈdoʊs/ (verb)
(noun) An excessive and dangerous dose of a drug. (verb) To take an excessive and dangerous dose of a drug.
An overdose can be accidental or intentional and can lead to severe health consequences, including death. It's a critical medical emergency.
The story behind the word. The word 'overdose' is a straightforward compound of the English prefix 'over-' meaning 'too much, excessive' and 'dose,' which comes from the Greek dosis, meaning 'a giving, a portion prescribed.' So, an 'overdose' is literally 'too much of a prescribed portion' or 'an excessive giving' of a drug. This clear etymology directly points to the dangerous quantity of a substance.
Word relationships
- poisoning: The process of being exposed to a poisonous substance; an overdose is a specific type of poisoning by drugs.
- toxicity: The degree to which a substance can harm an organism; an overdose results in acute toxicity.
- underdose: A dose that is too small or insufficient.
Commonly confused with
- misuse: 'Misuse' is using a drug incorrectly; 'overdose' is specifically taking too much, leading to dangerous effects.
Word family
- dosing (noun): The administration of a drug in specific doses.
Collocations
- drug overdose
- fatal overdose
- accidental overdose
- prevent overdose
- overdose death
Example sentences
- "The rise in opioid overdose deaths highlights the urgent need for increased access to naloxone and treatment services." Reporting on a public health crisis.
- "Paramedics were called to the scene after a young man was found unconscious, suspected of having overdosed on illicit drugs." In a medical emergency.
Memory hook
An OVERDOSE is when you take 'OVER' the safe 'DOSE'. OVER DOSE
When not to use
Avoid using 'overdose' for simply taking a bit too much of something non-medicinal or non-toxic (e.g., 'I overdosed on cake'). Use 'overindulged' or 'ate too much' instead.
Fun facts
- The opioid overdose crisis is a major public health challenge globally, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being particularly dangerous.
- Naloxone (Narcan) is an opioid antagonist that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, saving lives.
Related words
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