nicotine

noun

nic·​o·​tine ˈni-kə-ˌtēn How to pronounce nicotine (audio)
: a poisonous alkaloid C10H14N2 that is the chief active principle of tobacco and is used as an insecticide

Examples of nicotine in a Sentence

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.
Caffeine and nicotine increased the speed and volume of the movement across the gut. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Imagine 007 unmanned by a comparable tedium—slumped in a greasy London flat, counting his nicotine patches and waiting for M to call. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Even nicotine-free formulas contain flavorings and solvent agents like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 The pouches also closely resemble nicotine products, raising concerns among school officials about student health and the difficulty of distinguishing between the products. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nicotine

Word History

Etymology

French, from New Latin nicotiana

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nicotine was in 1817

Rhymes for nicotine

See All Rhymes for nicotine

Browse Nearby Words

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
nicotine
nicotined
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nicotine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nicotine. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nicotine

noun
nic·​o·​tine ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn How to pronounce nicotine (audio)
: a poisonous substance found in tobacco and used as an insecticide

Medical Definition

nicotine

noun
nic·​o·​tine ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn How to pronounce nicotine (audio)
: a poisonous alkaloid C10H14N2 that is the chief active principle of tobacco and that is used as an insecticide and is sometimes used in smoking cessation aids

Note: Trademarks for nicotine include Nicoderm, Nicorette, and Nicotrol.

More from Merriam-Webster on nicotine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nicotine

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