secondhand smoke

noun

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of secondhand smoke

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

See secondhand smoke defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of secondhand smoke from the Web

Even secondhand smoke leaves a residue on walls and building exteriors, says David Brauer, owner of PuroClean, a cleaning service in Walpole.

— nicole defeudis, BostonGlobe.com, "Four ways to keep marijuana from smelling up your home," 21 June 2018
The estimate doesn’t include illnesses related to secondhand smoke, such as childhood asthma or premature births to mothers who smoke.

— meg wingerter, The Seattle Times, "Oklahoma advances efforts to combat tobacco use," 13 Jan. 2018
There was a case in Broward County in 2005 where the judge ruled that secondhand smoke was a nuisance and ordered the smoker to stop.

— gary m. singer, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Ask a real estate pro: Neighbor's smoking is getting into my unit. What can I do?," 22 June 2018
Your city or town may have enacted secondhand smoke ordinances that may assist.

— gary m. singer, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Ask a real estate pro: Neighbor's smoking is getting into my unit. What can I do?," 22 June 2018
Already some research in rats has shown that exposure to secondhand smoke generated from marijuana affects the arteries in ways similar to tobacco smoke.

— ginia bellafante, New York Times, "Marijuana: The Signature Olfactory Experience of New York," 21 June 2018
Nutrition, physical activity, or even secondhand smoke — which wasn’t recognized in the 1940s — can affect a person’s baseline risk for disease.

— elizabeth cooney, STAT, "New risk calculator could change the aspirin, statins, and blood pressure medications some people take," 4 June 2018
Unlike secondhand smoke, which lasts for only a short time after a cigarette is consumed, thirdhand smoke can linger in the environment by sticking to clothing, upholstery, walls and other surfaces.

— karen kaplan, latimes.com, "This room was off-limits to smokers, but its air contained surprising amounts of 'thirdhand smoke'," 9 May 2018
Steer clear of tobacco and secondhand smoke; eliminate unnecessary contact with hormone disruptors in plastics, personal care products and receipts; avoid pesticides; and dodge air pollution (exercise indoors on days with poor air quality). 6.

— Houston Chronicle, "10 steps to protect your heart, brain and body from disease and premature aging," 20 May 2018

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

First Known Use of secondhand smoke

1891

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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SECONDHAND SMOKE Defined for English Language Learners

secondhand smoke

noun

Definition of secondhand smoke for English Language Learners

: smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc., that can be inhaled by people who are near the person who is smoking

Medical Dictionary

secondhand smoke

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

medical Definition of secondhand smoke

: 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