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.
Prior to leaving office, Biden also advanced a separate tobacco regulation, one that would set maximum nicotine levels for combustible cigarettes and effectively ban all cigarettes currently available in the United States. Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Jan. 2025 The first lowers permissible nicotine levels in cigarettes. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 Of course, rules to reduce nicotine in cigarettes would have no impact on nicotine in e-cigarettes, which have largely replaced combustible tobacco as one of the main ways young people now consume nicotine. Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025 The level of nicotine in cigarettes can vary greatly from brand to brand but on average each cigarette contains roughly 10 to 12 milligrams of nicotine per gram of tobacco. Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Nicotine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nicotine. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

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

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