nicotine

noun

nic·​o·​tine ˈni-kə-ˌtēn 

: a poisonous alkaloid C₁₀H₁₄N₂ that is the chief active principle of tobacco and is used as an insecticide

Examples of nicotine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The study found a 59% increase in nicotine ingestions between 2010 and 2015, which was primarily driven by liquid and solid nicotine products. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025

However, besides nicotine replacement therapies, there are at present only two smoking cessation drugs without nicotine that are authorized for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025

The earliest evidence of the use of nicotine dates from more than 12,000 years ago. —Literary Hub, 12 June 2025

In 2016, nicotine pouches were introduced to the U.S. market, which are microfiber sachets containing nicotine but no tobacco leaf and have gained in popularity in recent years. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 22 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from New Latin nicotiana

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nicotine

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids Definition

nicotine

noun

nic·​o·​tine ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn 

: a poisonous substance found in tobacco and used as an insecticide

Medical Definition

nicotine

noun

nic·​o·​tine ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn 

: a poisonous alkaloid C₁₀H₁₄N₂ that is the chief active principle of tobacco and that is used as an insecticide and is sometimes used in smoking cessation aids

Note: Trademarks for nicotine include Nicoderm, Nicorette, and Nicotrol.