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secondhand smoke
noun
: tobacco smoke that is exhaled by smokers or is given off by burning tobacco and is inhaled by persons nearby
Examples of secondhand smoke in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Black people, lower-income populations and people with less education are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 19 Nov. 2024
Prohibiting smoking is the only way to fully protect us from secondhand smoke exposure.
—David Stempel, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
There’s no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
—David Stempel, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Smoking is the top risk factor for developing chronic bronchitis, but frequent exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, or a history of respiratory disease can also contribute.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1891, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near secondhand smoke
Cite this Entry
“Secondhand smoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondhand%20smoke. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
secondhand smoke
noun
: tobacco smoke that is exhaled by smokers or is given off by burning tobacco and is inhaled by persons nearby
Medical Definition
secondhand smoke
noun
sec·ond·hand smoke
ˌsek-ᵊn(d)-ˌhan(d)-
: tobacco smoke that is exhaled by a smoker or is given off by burning tobacco (as of a cigarette) and is inhaled by persons nearby
called also passive smoke
More from Merriam-Webster on secondhand smoke
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about secondhand smoke
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