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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for cannibalism
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Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Fitzjames' remains showed evidence of cannibalism, the university said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 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
See All Example Sentences for cannibalism
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannibalism. Accessed 8 Jun. 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
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