plural cartoons
1
: a preparatory design, drawing, or painting (as for a fresco)
2
a
: a drawing intended as satire, caricature, or humor
a political cartoon
a cartoon drawing
b
: a group of drawings in narrative sequence : comic strip
3
: a video (such as a television show or movie) that is made from a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects (such as puppets) and that simulates movement by slight progressive changes in each frame : animated cartoon
4
: a ludicrously simplistic, unrealistic, or one-dimensional portrayal or version
The film's villain is an entertaining cartoon.
cartoon
verb
cartoonishly
adverb
Examples of cartoon in a Sentence
She enjoys reading the cartoons in the Sunday paper.
The kids are watching cartoons.
Recent Examples on the Web
Costumes of cartoon characters and puffy pigs, leopard outfits, Halloween masks and fuzzy hats.
—
Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
In a world of gloomy news headlines, Hasbro felt a cute cartoon piglet was just what the world needed.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
In the past, The Observer has won multiple Pulitizer Prizes, including two for public service and three for editorial cartoons.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
In the 2002 live-action version of the infamous cartoon, the gang takes a trip to Spooky Island, where suspicious behavior occurs, and the crew’s wacky investigative skills are needed.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
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Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
In a world of gloomy news headlines, Hasbro felt a cute cartoon piglet was just what the world needed.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
In the past, The Observer has won multiple Pulitizer Prizes, including two for public service and three for editorial cartoons.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
In the 2002 live-action version of the infamous cartoon, the gang takes a trip to Spooky Island, where suspicious behavior occurs, and the crew’s wacky investigative skills are needed.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
Cite this Entry
“Cartoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartoon. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cartoon
noun
car·toon
kär-ˈtün 
1
: a design, drawing, or painting made as a model for the finished work
2
a
: a drawing intended as a humorous comment on public affairs
b
3
Etymology
from Italian cartone "pasteboard, a sketch of a planned drawing or painting done on heavy paper," from carta "sheet of paper," from Latin charta "piece of papyrus" — related to card entry 3, carton
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