Heroine or Heroin?

by Craig Shrives

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 or heroin?

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. correct tick (Religious leader Ezra Taft Benson)
  • Most mainstream fiction is full of heroines. Female characters are great — you want to fall in love with them. correct tick (Author Iain Banks)
  • I'm a heroine addict. I need to be with women who have saved someone's life. correct tick (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. correct tick
  • Heroin was first made in 1898 by the Bayer Company in Germany. It was originally used as a cough medicine and a painkiller. correct tick

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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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? List of easily confused words