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

The team was forced to survive unbearably harsh conditions within the snowy mountains, with some even resorting to cannibalism. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026

Storrie portrayed Hammer, who in the sketch claimed that cannibalism is a side effect of Tourette's. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026

Epstein got Kuru disease from cannibalism? —Layla Ferris, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026

The summit is named for the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who became trapped there during the winter of 1846-47, a tragedy later associated with accounts of cannibalism. —Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Feb. 2026

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