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
Pairing their Tiny Desk set with four new songs, the album was accompanied by a short film that turned them into grotesque cartoons of themselves, alternating between looksmaxxing and airbrushed, doll-like looks reminiscent of the Backstreet Boys’ turn-of-the-millennium aesthetic.
—
Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
Now, science has finally given the cartoon its skeleton.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
The original Care Bears cartoon aired from 1985 to 1988 and was followed by three theatrical films spanning the mid-to-late 1980s.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Rizo Velovic won the challenge for an impression of the cartoon character Mickey Mouse.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
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Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
Now, science has finally given the cartoon its skeleton.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
The original Care Bears cartoon aired from 1985 to 1988 and was followed by three theatrical films spanning the mid-to-late 1980s.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Rizo Velovic won the challenge for an impression of the cartoon character Mickey Mouse.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
Cite this Entry
“Cartoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartoon. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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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