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.
Because tomatoes are in the same plant family as tobacco (nightshades), tobacco users and smoke can transmit a mosaic virus to their tomato plants by touching them. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 2026 The decision is a marketing win for the tobacco giant, which like other manufacturers is investing in smoke-free products. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 No alcohol, tobacco, pets or personal barbecues are allowed during concerts. — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026 Jessie Gaynor, an author and LitHub editor, remembers one impactful scene in the tobacco field when an overseer forced Addy to eat a worm. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026 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

Phrases Containing tobacco

Rhymes for tobacco

See All Rhymes for tobacco

Browse Nearby Words

tobac
tobacco
tobacco barn
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tobacco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tobacco. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of tobacco for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tobacco

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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