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Medicine vs. Drug

Medicine

/ˈmedsən/

A substance used to treat disease or relieve pain

Examples:

I need medicine for my cold.She is studying to become a medicine doctor.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Drug

/drʌɡ/

A substance used to treat illness or alter the mind or body

Examples:

He is taking medicine for his cold.The doctor prescribed me a new drug today.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Ways to tell them apart:

Drug is a broader term that can refer to any substance causing a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.
Medicine is specifically intended for health benefits, prevention, cure, or relief from symptoms of illnesses.
All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicines.
Drug can also refer to substances used for recreational purposes, whereas medicine is strictly for therapeutic use.
Remember: medicine is for medical treatment, whereas drug can have a broader use including recreational and illicit connotations.

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