Illustration of tobacco
- tobacco 1
tobacco
noun
to·bac·co
tə-ˈba-(ˌ)kō 
plural tobaccos
1
: any of a genus (Nicotiana) of chiefly American plants of the nightshade family with viscid foliage and tubular flowers
especially
: a tall erect annual tropical American herb (N. tabacum) cultivated for its leaves
2
: the leaves of cultivated tobacco prepared for use in smoking or chewing or as snuff
3
: manufactured products of tobacco (such as cigars or cigarettes)
also
: smoking as a practice
has sworn off tobacco
4
: a moderate brown
Examples of tobacco in a Sentence
a farm that grows tobacco
a state tax on tobacco
Recent Examples on the Web
For people who already smoke tobacco cigarettes, though, Middlekauff said that current evidence suggests that e-cigarettes offer a safer alternative.
—
Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 12 Apr. 2024
For instance, in 2017, Partnership and other safety-net health plans backed Proposition 56 which increased tax rates on tobacco products and devoted much of that new revenue to pay for health care for low-income Californians.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Ohio raised the minimum age for tobacco sales from 18 years old to 21 in 2019.
—The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024
Study finds tobacco imagery persists in TV, movies and music videos viewed by young audiences
Are nicotine pouches cancerous?
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
But the Colorado data belies that, according to longtime tobacco researcher Stanton Glantz.
—John Daley - Colorado Public Radio, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
The higher sales tax on tobacco products is expected to generate about $91 million in new revenue for the Blueprint in fiscal 2025.
—Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The great tobacco spitting contest will be held April 2 on the square in downtown Monticello.
—Eula Calahan , Micah Farmer, arkansasonline.com, 7 Apr. 2024
Orwell typed for hours upstairs, sitting on his iron bedstead in a tatty dressing gown, chain-smoking shag tobacco.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 12 Apr. 2024
For instance, in 2017, Partnership and other safety-net health plans backed Proposition 56 which increased tax rates on tobacco products and devoted much of that new revenue to pay for health care for low-income Californians.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Ohio raised the minimum age for tobacco sales from 18 years old to 21 in 2019.
—The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024
Study finds tobacco imagery persists in TV, movies and music videos viewed by young audiences
Are nicotine pouches cancerous?
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
But the Colorado data belies that, according to longtime tobacco researcher Stanton Glantz.
—John Daley - Colorado Public Radio, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
The higher sales tax on tobacco products is expected to generate about $91 million in new revenue for the Blueprint in fiscal 2025.
—Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The great tobacco spitting contest will be held April 2 on the square in downtown Monticello.
—Eula Calahan , Micah Farmer, arkansasonline.com, 7 Apr. 2024
Orwell typed for hours upstairs, sitting on his iron bedstead in a tatty dressing gown, chain-smoking shag tobacco.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tobacco.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Spanish tabaco, probably from Taino, roll of tobacco leaves
First Known Use
circa 1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing tobacco
Dictionary Entries Near tobacco
Cite this Entry
“Tobacco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tobacco. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
tobacco
noun
to·bac·co
tə-ˈbak-ō
plural tobaccos
1
: any of a genus of chiefly American plants of the nightshade family that have sticky leaves and tube-shaped flowers
especially
: a tall upright tropical American herb with pink or white flowers that is grown for its leaves
2
: the leaves of cultivated tobacco prepared for use in smoking or chewing or as snuff
Medical Definition
tobacco
noun
to·bac·co
tə-ˈbak-(ˌ)ō
plural tobaccos
1
: any plant of the genus Nicotiana
especially
: an annual South American herb (N. tabacum) cultivated for its leaves
2
: the leaves of cultivated tobacco prepared for use in smoking or chewing or as snuff
3
: manufactured products of tobacco
also
: the use of tobacco as a practice
More from Merriam-Webster on tobacco
Nglish: Translation of tobacco for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tobacco for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tobacco
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