cIg

A cigarette is a cylinder of finely cut tobacco wrapped in thin paper, designed to be lit at one end and smoked, with the smoke drawn through the other end. The term cig is a common informal shorthand for cigarette.

Most cigarettes include tobacco blended to various tastes, a paper wrapper, and a cylindrical filter at the mouth end in many markets. Some are unfiltered or flavored (such as menthol), and sizes range from slim to king-size. Additives and flavorings, as well as the type of paper and filter, influence burn rate and taste.

Cigarettes deliver nicotine, an addictive stimulant. Health risks associated with smoking include lung cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke. Secondhand smoke harms others. Public health measures address these risks through warnings, taxation, age restrictions, and smoke-free policies.

Manufacturing is typically automated and standardized; products are regulated by national agencies. The history of modern cigarettes begins in the late 19th century with machine-rolled production, leading to widespread consumption in the 20th century. Industry advertising has become highly restricted in many countries.

In many regions, smoking prevalence has declined due to health campaigns, taxation, and cessation support, though cigarettes remain legal and widely used in various cultures. The term cig is primarily used in informal speech and reflects the broader category of tobacco cigarettes.