secondhand smoke

noun

: tobacco smoke that is exhaled by smokers or is given off by burning tobacco and is inhaled by persons nearby

Examples of secondhand smoke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hall insightfully explained to the audience that while oral swabs can sometimes give false positives from inhaling secondhand smoke, urine tests remain the most reliable method for detecting marijuana use. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Exposure to secondhand smoke—breathing in the smoke from someone else's tobacco product—can lead to lung cancer. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 14 Aug. 2024

Forty years ago, the intuitive outrage of secondhand smoke was an eye-opener for many Americans. —David Zipper, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

For example, dry air, smoking, or exposure to secondhand smoke often lead to a scratchy throat and hoarseness. —Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for secondhand smoke

• artichoke
• nanticoke
• womenfolk
• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk

Kids Definition

secondhand smoke

noun

: tobacco smoke that is exhaled by smokers or is given off by burning tobacco and is inhaled by persons nearby

Medical Definition

secondhand smoke

noun

sec·​ond·​hand smoke ˌsek-ᵊn(d)-ˌhan(d)- 

: tobacco smoke that is exhaled by a smoker or is given off by burning tobacco (as of a cigarette) and is inhaled by persons nearby

called also passive smoke