Heroine or Heroin?

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What Is the Difference between "Heroine" and "Heroin"?

"Heroine" and "heroin" are easy to confuse because they sound identical (i.e., they are perfect homonyms).

• A "heroine" is a woman admired for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.
• To be a hero or a heroine, one must give an order to oneself. (Philosopher Simone Weil)
• "Heroin" is an addictive drug derived from morphine.
• Russia is said to have more heroin users than any other country in the world.

Heroine

The noun "heroine" refers to a woman (often in a book, play, or film) that is admired for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. (In mythology, "heroines" are often women with superhuman qualities.)

Example sentences with "heroine":

• Great battles can make great heroes and heroines. (Religious leader Ezra Taft Benson)
• Most mainstream fiction is full of heroines. Female characters are great — you want to fall in love with them. (Author Iain Banks)
• I'm a heroine addict. I need to be with women who have saved someone's life. (Comedian Mitch Hedberg)
(This is a play on words.)

Heroin

The noun "heroin" is an analgesic (a painkiller) drug made from morphine. "Heroin" is illegal in many countries, unless it is used to treat a medical problem.

Example sentences with "heroin":

• Many heroin users are very afraid of withdrawal. Withdrawal is one of the most common reasons why people have trouble quitting heroin.
• Heroin was first made in 1898 by the Bayer Company in Germany. It was originally used as a cough medicine and a painkiller.

Common Terms with "Heroine" and "Heroin"

Common terms with the word "heroine":

• heroine and hero
• heroine of a book
• heroine of a film
• superheroine

Common terms with the word "heroin":

• heroin addict
• heroin user
• heroin chic
• heroin withdrawal symptoms

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