tobacco

American  

[tuh-bak-oh] / təˈbæk oʊ /

noun

plural

tobaccos, tobaccoes

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Nicotiana, of the nightshade family, especially one of those species, as N. tabacum, whose leaves are prepared for smoking or chewing or as snuff.

2. the prepared leaves, as used in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.

3. any product or products made from such leaves.

4. any of various similar plants of other genera.

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tobacco British  

/ təˈbækəʊ /

noun

1. any of numerous solanaceous plants of the genus Nicotiana, having mildly narcotic properties, tapering hairy leaves, and tubular or funnel-shaped fragrant flowers. The species N. tabacum is cultivated as the chief source of commercial tobacco

2. the leaves of certain of these plants dried and prepared for snuff, chewing, or smoking

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Other Word Forms

• antitobacco adjective
• tobaccoless adjective

Etymology

Origin of tobacco

1525–35; < Spanish tabaco, perhaps < Arawak: a pipe for smoking the plant, or roll of leaves smoked, or the plant

Explanation

Tobacco refers to the leaves of the tobacco plant that have been dried and processed for people to roll up and smoke. Tobacco is the main ingredient in cigarettes, and of course, chewing tobacco. Tobacco was used for fun in the Americas way before the Europeans came, but it was cultivated in France in the 1500s, and is still going strong. The word tobacco probably came from the Caribbean. The name Tobacco Road is from a novel by Erskine Caldwell, but is used to describe a section of North Carolina that produced a lot of tobacco. Tobacco is mainly used in cigarettes, which are really bad for your health.

Example Sentences

The agency has previously authorized menthol and tobacco flavors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The relief measures would cost the government around 1.6 billion euros, which is to be financed by higher taxes on tobacco, a finance ministry spokesman said.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

The big-tobacco settlement in 1998 resulted in tobacco companies agreeing to change the way they market their products and pay states $206 billion over 25 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

While it’s difficult to prove social media caused any given individual’s troubles, we must remember the same was once true for tobacco lawsuits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

At seventeen, he had married a sixteen-year-old girl, a neighbor, Mary Dixon, the daughter of a tobacco factory worker.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• cigarette
• crop
• smoking