What does "snuff" mean?
Finely ground or pulverized tobacco (or other plant derivative) intended for use by being sniffed or snorted into the nose.
Snuff
/snʌf/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Finely ground or pulverized tobacco (or other plant derivative) intended for use by being sniffed or snorted into the nose.
- Grammar: snuff is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: sniff, aqua lung, aqua-lung, artificial respiration.
- Useful contrasts: bright, colorful, exhale.
- Usage evidence: I feel not quite up to snuff when I meet my relatives.
How to use "snuff"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "snuff" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "snuff" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "snuff" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "snuff" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "snuff" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "sniff" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "snuff", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Finely ground or pulverized tobacco (or other plant derivative) intended for use by being sniffed or snorted into the nose. countable, uncountable
"The native of some South American tribes use this drug as an aphrodisiac in the form of a snuff called cohoba."
- 2 The burning part of a candle wick, or the black, burnt remains of a wick (which must be periodically removed). countable, uncountable
"his memory stinks like the snuff of a candle when it is put out […]"
- 3 sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose wordnet
- 4 Fine-ground or minced tobacco, dry or moistened, intended for use by placing a pinch behind the lip or beneath the tongue. countable, uncountable
"Dry snuffs are often adulterated with quicklime, and moist snuffs, as rappee, with ammonia, hellebore, pearl-ash, etc."
- 5 Leavings in a glass after drinking; heeltaps. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nose wordnet
- 7 A snort or sniff of fine-ground, powdered, or pulverized tobacco. countable, uncountable
- 8 A murder. countable, slang, uncountable
"The cops are chasing their own asses on the St Christopher case, so how about a “Are You St Christopher's Next Slaying?” piece? Profiles of all the snuffs to date and reconstructions of the victims' last minutes."
- 9 a pinch of smokeless tobacco inhaled at a single time wordnet
- 10 The act of briskly inhaling by the nose; a sniff, a snort. countable, uncountable
- 11 A film or video clip which involves a real non-acted murder. attributive, countable, slang, uncountable
- 12 the charred portion of a candlewick wordnet
- 13 Resentment or skepticism expressed by quickly drawing air through the nose; snuffling; sniffling. countable, uncountable
- 14 Snot, mucus. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 15 Smell, scent, odour. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To inhale through the nose.
"He snuffs the wind, his heels the sand excite."
- 2 To extinguish a candle or oil-lamp flame by covering the burning end of the wick until the flame is suffocated. countable, informal, uncountable
"If you like snuff stories, Mr. Witomski's computer will send you information about the Gladiator newsletter. And if you happen to prefer killing sexual partners of the opposite sex — no problem, the computer will alter the pronouns."
- 3 inhale (something) through the nose wordnet
- 4 To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offence.
"January 29, 1625, Joseph Hall, Public thanksgiving for the wonderful mitigation of the late morality Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff?"
- 5 To trim the burnt part of a candle wick. obsolete
"The dimness of the light her candle emitted made her turn to it in alarm; but there was no danger of its sudden extinction, it had yet some hours to burn; and that she might not have any greater difficulty in distinguishing the writing than what its ancient date might occasion, she hastily snuffed it. Alas! it was snuffed and extinguished in one."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 sniff or smell inquiringly wordnet
- 7 To drug (a person) with a mixture of snuff and beer. Ireland, UK, obsolete, slang, transitive
- 8 To snuff out; to extinguish; to put out; to kill. slang
"Too much of a coward to snuff myself Guess I'll just have to suffer myself"
Adjective
- 1 snuff colored; of a greyish to yellowish brown wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I feel not quite up to snuff when I meet my relatives."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "snuff"?
Common synonyms include: sniff, aqua lung, aqua-lung, artificial respiration, aspirate, aspiration.
How do you use "snuff" in a sentence?
I feel not quite up to snuff when I meet my relatives.
How do you pronounce "snuff"?
Pronounced /snʌf/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Late Middle English, from Middle Dutch snuffen (“to snuff, sniff, snuffle”). Related to Dutch snuiven (“to sniff”), Middle Low German snûve (“pose, head-cold”), German Schnupfen (“head-cold”). The noun is probably from Dutch snuf (“snuff”), an abbreviation of snuftabak, snuiftabak (“snuff”). Related to sniff (compare Dutch snuffen (“snuff”), German schnupf (“snuff”), French schnouff (“junk”)).
Etymology 2
From Middle English snoffe, snuffe, of uncertain origin. Compare Middle Dutch snuf, snof (“snuff”), Dutch sneuvelen (“to die in battle”).
Etymology 3
From Middle English snuffen, snoffen, from the noun (see Etymology 2 above).