: 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
tobacco 1
Examples of tobacco in a Sentence
a farm that grows tobacco
a state tax on tobacco
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In the pilot study, the team noted two in five people who develop lung cancer in Canada do not meet current screening inclusion criteria and half have never smoked tobacco at all, with another half smoking too little or too long ago for the tobacco alone to be considered a cause.—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025 Barrels were filled at 114 proof and aged for 14 years, resulting in a 129-proof whiskey with notes of vanilla, maple, and tobacco on the palate.—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025 Men are more likely to experience alcoholism, smoke tobacco or use other drugs, the study stated, each of which can increase the likelihood of fatal diseases, like lung cancer or heart disease.—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 Store owners say the system favors large tobacco companies, which have lobbied for the law in Wisconsin and other states.—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tobacco
Word History
Etymology
Spanish tabaco, probably from Taino, roll of tobacco leaves
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