1. a habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs; - Example: "one college athlete recently called beer a gateway drug for young people"
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
gateway drug
n 1: 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"