What does cigarette mean?
A cigarette is a thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco leaves rolled tightly in paper, designed to be lit at one end and smoked. It is one of the most widely recognized forms of tobacco consumption worldwide and is typically sold in packs or cartons. The word itself comes from French, where it was formed as a diminutive of 'cigare' (cigar), meaning literally 'little cigar.' Cigarettes are distinguished from cigars by their smaller size, paper wrapping rather than whole tobacco leaf, and the common practice of inhaling the smoke. The term appears frequently in everyday language and idioms such as 'chain-smoking' (lighting one after another). Because of well-documented links between smoking and serious disease, the word now carries strong negative connotations in many contexts, appearing often in public-health messaging, legislation on packaging and advertising, and discussions of secondhand smoke.
nounA thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper, lit at one end and smoked.
- A thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco wrapped in paper, intended to be smoked.
"She stepped out onto the balcony to smoke a cigarette before the meeting began."
"He crushed the cigarette under his heel and walked back inside."
"Cigarette sales have fallen sharply since the introduction of plain packaging laws."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple individual cigarettes or quantities such as packs.
"The vending machine dispensed twenty cigarettes for five dollars."
The word 'cigarette' is French for 'little cigar' — smokers literally adopted the diminutive of a bigger habit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cigarette
The English word 'cigarette' comes from French 'cigarette', a diminutive of 'cigare' meaning cigar, with the '-ette' suffix indicating something small. It entered English in the early 19th century, borrowed directly from French. Related terms include 'cigar' itself and Spanish-derived tobacco vocabulary such as 'cheroot'.
How cigarette is actually used
In British informal speech, 'fag' is a common synonym for a cigarette but can carry other meanings; 'butt' refers specifically to the stub end. The word is neutral register but carries strong health-related connotations in modern usage.
Easily confused with cigarette
A cigar is a larger roll of tobacco wrapped in tobacco leaf rather than paper and is not inhaled in the same way as a cigarette.