cartoon

1 of 2

noun

car·​toon kär-ˈtün 

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

cartooning

kär-ˈtü-niŋ 

noun

cartoonish

kär-ˈtü-nish 

adjective

cartoonishly adverb

cartoonist

kär-ˈtü-nist 

noun

cartoonlike

kär-ˈtün-ˌlīk 

adjective

cartoony

kär-ˈtü-nē 

adjective

cartoonish

2 of 2

adjective

car·​toon·​ish kär-ˈtü-nish 

: resembling a cartoon

cartoonishly adverb

cartoonishness noun

Synonyms of cartoon

Noun

• sketch
• drawing
• portrait
• depiction
• illustration
• image

Examples of cartoon in a Sentence

Noun

She enjoys reading the cartoons in the Sunday paper.

The kids are watching cartoons.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The layout splits between a restaurant and a cocktail bar, with a listening lounge tucked into the back corner, whose walls come alive with flickering anime cartoons. — Jaclyn Degiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

There’s a dazzling variety available, from madeleine pans to cartoon character pans to massive stacks of wedding cake pans, both round and square. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

The character creator is impressive, too, with a huge number of unlockable outfits and accessories, as well as classic alien races from the movies and cartoons. — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

By Lisa Benson What readers are saying The conversation explores a range of perspectives on the opinion piece, with many participants critiquing the cartoon's portrayal of European unrest and welfare states. — Lisa Benson, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian cartone pasteboard, cartoon, augmentative of carta leaf of paper — more at card entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cartoon

• animated cartoon
• strip cartoon

Rhymes for cartoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn
• jejune

Kids 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

: comic strip

3

: animated cartoon

cartoonist

-ˈtü-nəst 

noun

Etymology

Noun

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