Words matter: descriptors for nicotine that comes from tobacco and descriptors for synthetic nicotine that is created in a laboratory differentially impact understanding of nicotine source and risk perceptions.

Many terms for NML and NFT are differentially related to understanding nicotine source and risk perceptions even though no existing research indicates that NML and NFT differ meaningfully from each other on characteristics like addictiveness. In the absence of prohibiting product differentiation by nicotine source, regulatory agencies should promote using the terms 'Nicotine from Tobacco' and 'Nicotine Made in a Lab' and investigate whether products using descriptors conveying reduced harm (eg, 'zero-tobacco,' 'no-tobacco,' 'non-tobacco') should require review as Modified Risk Tobacco Products.