: 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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Shelves lined with baking ingredients, bolts of fabric, tinware, nails, and jars of penny candy created a patchwork of textures and smells ranging from molasses and leather to spices and tobacco smoke.—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 May 2026 Even items like sugar, coffee and tobacco that the island once produced in large quantities are now being imported.—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 18 May 2026 In 2015, the VALIE EXPORT Center Linz was inaugurated in a former tobacco factory in her hometown to foster engagement with media and performance art.—News Desk, Artforum, 15 May 2026 And public health experts consider e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches less harmful alternative to tobacco-burning cigarettes.—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tobacco
Word History
Etymology
Spanish tabaco, probably from Taino, roll of tobacco leaves