cancel culture

noun

: the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling (see cancel entry 1 sense 1e) as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure

For those of you who aren't aware, cancel culture refers to the mass withdrawal of support from public figures or celebrities who have done things that aren't socially accepted today. This practice of "canceling" or mass shaming often occurs on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

—Demetria Slyt

At a Republican National Convention where speakers' rage about cancel culture has been clear, former Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann used his speaking slot to introduce himself as "the teenager who was defamed by the media."

—Hunter Woodall

Cancel culture is supported as a tool to stop offensive and harmful behavior, while others find it problematic and toxic.

—Elise Krumholz

cancel culture warriors

the cancel culture movement

also : the people who engage in or support this practice

I have to admit that I'm not opposed to the majority of legacies, groups of people, and trends being scrutinized by the cancel culture. In fact, the response to many of the ideologies and personalities that have been "cancelled" is, in most cases, long, long overdue. But I have a few concerns …

—Brad Peters

Examples of cancel culture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Keeping it real Todays’s snark exists at the intersection of gossip and cancel culture. —Jess Rauchberg, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025

The sentiment that cancel culture and social media censorship went too far is something that is felt far beyond the manosphere. —Donie O'Sullivan, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025

The conversations have touched on subjects including weight loss and perception, as in the episode with social media influencer Remi Bader, as well the idea of cancel culture, in the episode with White, and include Kardashian’s own experience and insights on the topics. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025

This may only be the beginning of this new cancel culture that has emerged at the NIH and other federal agencies during the Trump Administration. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2016, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cancel culture

• agriculture
• apiculture
• aquaculture
• counterculture
• floriculture
• horticulture
• mariculture
• monoculture
• sericulture
• silviculture
• viticulture
• arboriculture