: 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
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Is the primary aim to eradicate nicotine entirely or to reduce harm swiftly and effectively by transitioning users to alternatives quickly? Markus Lindblad, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 Good on state Attorney General Tish James for filing suit against 13 companies that make, distribute or sell vaping products for their part in getting more and more kids hooked on nicotine. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025 In recent years, more young children had been landing in emergency rooms, poisoned by liquid nicotine. Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 22 Feb. 2025 This approach sought to balance harm reduction with preventing a new generation from developing nicotine addiction. Thomas Stratmann, National Review, 14 Feb. 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 20 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

nicotine

noun
: a poisonous substance found in tobacco and used as an insecticide

Medical Definition

nicotine

noun
: 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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