cigarette

noun cig·a·rette \ ˌsi-gə-ˈret , ˈsi-gə-ˌ \

variants: or less commonly cigaret

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of cigarette

: a slender roll of cut tobacco enclosed in paper and meant to be smoked; also : a similar roll of another substance (such as marijuana)

See cigarette defined for English-language learners

See cigarette defined for kids

Recent Examples of cigarette from the Web

One of the patrons there decided to put a cigarette out in his drink in retaliation.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "This Black Navy Vet Says Bouncers At Dallas Strip Club Beat Him, Called Him Racial Slurs," 10 May 2018
April 30, 2018 Boston—Sneaking a cigarette in the school bathroom?

— collin binkley, The Christian Science Monitor, "Widespread teen vaping sparks concerns in schools," 30 Apr. 2018
Horn, now 37, was 17 when he was accused by New Haven police of robbery and the murder of 22-year-old Caprice Hardy, who was buying cigarettes at Dixwell Deli in New Haven.

— kathleen mcwilliams, courant.com, "New Haven Man Jailed For 17 Years Freed After Judge Vacates Murder, Robbery Convictions," 26 Apr. 2018
Chicago raised the minimum age to buy cigarettes to 21 in 2016, but the proposal that advanced Wednesday would apply statewide.

— monique garcia, chicagotribune.com, "Illinois Senate votes to raise minimum age to buy cigarettes, vaping devices to 21," 25 Apr. 2018
The momentum for such bans grew from a troubling statistic among health advocates that shows while cigarette smoking has declined over the years locally and nationally, the number of people who use smokeless tobacco remains relatively stagnant.

— jessica lee, The Seattle Times, "It’s official: Mariners, opponents will soon no longer be able to chew tobacco at Safeco Field," 19 Apr. 2018
Glenn was an interesting man, a man’s man who smoked his cigarettes and drank his beer and yelled at umpires.

— gregg doyel, Indianapolis Star, "Doyel: Former Wabash quarterback directs critically acclaimed movie," 5 Apr. 2018
The General gave me a warm smile, putting out his cigarette in the cut glass ashtray.

— clara moskowitz, Scientific American, "Quantum Leaps: Read the Winning Entry in a Physics-Inspired Fiction Contest," 30 Mar. 2018
And a final group stuck with their usual cigarettes.

— korin miller, SELF, "The FDA Wants to Limit the Amount of Nicotine in Cigarettes, but Would That Actually Lower Addiction Rates?," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cigarette.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cigarette

French cigarette, diminutive of cigare cigar, from Spanish cigarro

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1832

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

CIGARETTE Defined for English Language Learners

cigarette

noun

Definition of cigarette for English Language Learners

: a small roll of paper that is filled with cut tobacco and smoked

CIGARETTE Defined for Kids

cigarette

noun cig·a·rette \ ˌsi-gə-ˈret \

Definition of cigarette for Students

: a small roll of cut tobacco wrapped in paper for smoking

Learn More about cigarette

See words that rhyme with cigarette Spanish Central: Translation of cigarette Nglish: Translation of cigarette for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cigarette for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cigarette

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cigarette? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

cigarette

Definition of cigarette

Recent Examples of cigarette from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cigarette

CIGARETTE Defined for English Language Learners

cigarette

Definition of cigarette for English Language Learners

CIGARETTE Defined for Kids

cigarette

Definition of cigarette for Students

Learn More about cigarette

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

sacrosanct

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Noun + Verb Insult Generator

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

'Deprived' vs. 'Depraved'

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

cigarette

Definition of cigarette

Recent Examples of cigarette from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cigarette

Phrases Related to CIGARETTE

Related Phrases

CIGARETTE Defined for English Language Learners

cigarette

Definition of cigarette for English Language Learners

CIGARETTE Defined for Kids

cigarette

Definition of cigarette for Students

Learn More about cigarette

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word