cannibalism
noun
can·ni·bal·ism
ˈka-nə-bə-ˌli-zəm 
1
: the usually ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being
2
: the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of the same kind
3
: an act of cannibalizing something
Examples of cannibalism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Within the past few years, matches with DNA from descendants helped scientists identify John Gregory, the engineer aboard the Erebus, as well as James Fitzjames, the ship’s captain — whose bones show evidence of cannibalism.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
His remains showed clear signs of cannibalism, confirming early Inuit reports of desperate crew members resorting to eating their dead.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Some Epstein platform operators are supplementing their thinking with ideas from QAnon and other online conspiracy movements about cannibalism, satanism or the CIA’s experiments with mind control in the 1950s known as MK Ultra.
—Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 8 May 2026
Fox execs, worried that cannibalism jokes would quickly become stale (and possibly made in poor taste), asked Bouchard to reconsider.
—Jason Maxey, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cannibalism
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
His remains showed clear signs of cannibalism, confirming early Inuit reports of desperate crew members resorting to eating their dead.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Some Epstein platform operators are supplementing their thinking with ideas from QAnon and other online conspiracy movements about cannibalism, satanism or the CIA’s experiments with mind control in the 1950s known as MK Ultra.
—Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 8 May 2026
Fox execs, worried that cannibalism jokes would quickly become stale (and possibly made in poor taste), asked Bouchard to reconsider.
—Jason Maxey, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cannibalism
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannibalism. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cannibalism
noun
can·ni·bal·ism
ˈkan-ə-bə-ˌliz-əm
1
: the eating of human flesh by a human being
2
: the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of the same kind
Medical Definition
cannibalism
noun
can·ni·bal·ism
-bə-ˌliz-əm
1
: the usually ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being
2
: the eating of the flesh or the eggs of any animal by its own kind
3
: the pecking and tearing of the live flesh of its own members in a domestic poultry flock compare pecking order
4
: oral sadism
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
