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
Noun (1)
She enjoys reading the cartoons in the Sunday paper.
The kids are watching cartoons.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
His books also included Laughing Matter — A Treasury of American Humor (1989), a collection of stories, cartoons, essays and scripts featuring Woody Allen, Russell Baker, Gary Trudeau and Garrison Keillor, among others.
—Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
Whereas that game is meant to disorient you, Rhythm Heaven Groove's bold and memorable cartoon scenes enhance the game's Simon Says-like call-and-response quality.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
The official logline describes the show as modern reimagining of the beloved cartoon.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
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Noun
Paper was scarce during the war, so the boy would roust himself out of bed early and intercept the delivery of newspapers and magazines, going at their blank margins with his pencil, drawing figures, cartoons, landscapes, whatever struck his fancy.
—Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
His books also included Laughing Matter — A Treasury of American Humor (1989), a collection of stories, cartoons, essays and scripts featuring Woody Allen, Russell Baker, Gary Trudeau and Garrison Keillor, among others.
—Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
Whereas that game is meant to disorient you, Rhythm Heaven Groove's bold and memorable cartoon scenes enhance the game's Simon Says-like call-and-response quality.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
The official logline describes the show as modern reimagining of the beloved cartoon.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 10 June 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 16 Jun. 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
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
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