What does bidi mean?
A bidi is a small, thin cigarette made by rolling flaked tobacco inside a dried tendu leaf, which is then tied shut with cotton thread. Originating in India, where it remains far more widely consumed than factory-manufactured cigarettes, the bidi is prized for being cheap and is often produced by hand in small-scale workshops. Though sometimes marketed elsewhere as a 'natural' alternative to conventional cigarettes, bidis are not safer: they typically deliver higher concentrations of tar, carbon monoxide, and nicotine per unit of tobacco, and their wrappers must often be licked to stay sealed, adding further health hazards. The word entered English through Hindi and Urdu during the colonial era, and today it appears mainly in discussions of public health, South Asian daily life, and international trade.
nounA thin, hand-rolled cigarette filled with tobacco and wrapped in a dried tendu (or temburni) leaf, tied with string; popular in India and South Asia.
- A thin, hand-rolled cigarette of tobacco wrapped in a tendu leaf, common in India and South Asia.
"He stepped out of the shop to smoke a bidi before returning to work."
"Vendors sold bidis by the bundle at the corner stall."
"Health officials warned that bidis carry serious respiratory risks despite their small size."
Standard plural; also seen as 'beedies' reflecting the pronunciation.
"Workers rolled thousands of bidis each day in the small workshop."
Bidis deliver several times more tar and carbon monoxide than ordinary cigarettes — yet in India they outsell them many times over.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bidi
The word 'bidi' comes from Hindi and Urdu bidī, denoting the hand-rolled leaf cigarette; it is thought to derive ultimately from Marathi, referring to the leaf used as its wrapper. It was adopted into English during the period of British presence in India, when Anglo-Indian vocabulary absorbed many local terms for everyday objects. Related words in other languages reflect the same South Asian source.
How bidi is actually used
The word is informal and chiefly associated with South Asia; it refers specifically to the hand-rolled leaf-wrapped cigarette rather than factory-made cigarettes.
Easily confused with bidi
A 'buddy' is an informal term for a friend, while a 'bidi' is a type of hand-rolled cigarette.