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 2024, Hammer responded to the cannibalism claims in a podcast interview. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Higher-level inmates gorge themselves; those below face starvation, suicide or cannibalism – a brutal metaphor for the world’s food chain. — John Hopewell, Variety, 12 June 2026

The Milky Way has grown through galactic cannibalism, or when a large galaxy eats a small galaxy and uses immense gravitational force to absorb its stars and gas. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 May 2026

Fitzjames' remains showed evidence of cannibalism, the university said. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cannibalism

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

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