vb, -fied  -fy*ing vt  1 a  :  to remove a poison or toxin or the effect of such from  b  :  to render (a harmful substance) harmless  2  :  to free (as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance <the clinic started ing him by gradually lowering his dosage -J. M. Markham>  vi  :  to become free of addiction to a drug or alcohol de*tox*i*fi*ca*tion n 
 
 
 
Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.  © 1997-2024.