Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun gateway_drug

1 sense of gateway drug

Sense 1
gateway drug -- (a habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs; "one college athlete recently called beer a gateway drug for young people")
       => drug of abuse, street drug -- (a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction)