cotinine
noun
co·tin·ine
ˈkō-tə-ˌnēn 
-ˌnīn
-ˌnīn
: an alkaloid C10H12N2O that is the principal metabolite of nicotine
Examples of cotinine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Blood and saliva tests usually detect nicotine and cotinine for a few days, while urine tests may pick them up for weeks.
—
Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Following the treatment period, participants’ smoking behaviour was monitored for four weeks, both by self-reporting and by monitoring urine for cotinine — a product formed when nicotine is broken down in the body.
—Simon Makin, Scientific American, 23 June 2023
By the way, the researchers used measurements of cotinine concentrations to ensure that the mothers had been non-smokers.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2022
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cotinine is a compound formed after the chemical nicotine enters the body.
—al, 15 Oct. 2021
The study defined tobacco exposure as a child reporting smoking, living with a smoker or having serum cotinine levels, which measures recent exposure to nicotine, greater than 0.05 micrograms per liter.
—Megan Marples, CNN, 25 Feb. 2021
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Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Following the treatment period, participants’ smoking behaviour was monitored for four weeks, both by self-reporting and by monitoring urine for cotinine — a product formed when nicotine is broken down in the body.
—Simon Makin, Scientific American, 23 June 2023
By the way, the researchers used measurements of cotinine concentrations to ensure that the mothers had been non-smokers.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2022
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cotinine is a compound formed after the chemical nicotine enters the body.
—al, 15 Oct. 2021
The study defined tobacco exposure as a child reporting smoking, living with a smoker or having serum cotinine levels, which measures recent exposure to nicotine, greater than 0.05 micrograms per liter.
—Megan Marples, CNN, 25 Feb. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Cotinine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cotinine. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cotinine
noun
co·tin·ine
ˈkōt-ᵊn-ˌēn
-ˌīn
-ˌīn
: an alkaloid C10H12N2O that is the principal metabolite of nicotine and is widely used as an indicator of recent exposure to nicotine
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