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

cannibalistic

ˌka-nə-bə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

Examples of cannibalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In response, Europeans spread the myth of their cannibalism, which would be used to justify their enslavement. —Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

While Gein read books about cannibalism, according to A&E, his interest in human anatomy never turned to hunger. —Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025

Given the nature of his crimes, some people suspected that Gein was also engaging in cannibalism. —Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025

Add in a dash of horror and the lingering threat of cannibalism, and Yellowjackets proves there is nothing scarier than a group of teenagers determined to survive. —James Mercadante, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cannibalism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism

Kids 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

cannibalistic

ˌkan-ə-bə-ˈlis-tik 

adjective

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