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tobacco

noun

to·​bac·​co tə-ˈba-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce tobacco (audio)
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

Illustration of tobacco

Illustration of tobacco
  • tobacco 1

Examples of tobacco in a Sentence

a farm that grows tobacco a state tax on tobacco
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Howe’s response was a Budget that raised the then-enormous sum of £4 billion in taxes via a freeze in thresholds — a tactic Reeves is set to deploy today — and big increases in alcohol, tobacco and motor fuel duties. Ian King, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2025 The Georgia Department of Driver Services says Georgians can now use digital driver's licenses on their phones to verify their age when buying alcohol and tobacco at participating retailers. Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025 Tasted out of magnum bottles, this stunning blend has aromas of red raspberry, cassis, pine forest, and tobacco leaf with silky tannins and flavors of red and black fruits, tobacco leaf, and forest shrubs. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2025 Certain studies have shown that transgender people are more likely to use tobacco products or less likely to receive routine cancer screenings — factors that could put them at higher risk of disease. Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tobacco

Word History

Etymology

Spanish tabaco, probably from Taino, roll of tobacco leaves

First Known Use

circa 1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tobacco was circa 1565

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Cite this Entry

“Tobacco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tobacco. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

tobacco

noun
to·​bac·​co tə-ˈbak-ō How to pronounce tobacco (audio)
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 How to pronounce tobacco (audio)
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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