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
The image shows the cartoon turtle standing on the edge of a helicopter, opening fire on a boat.
—
MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Directed by long-term Palace collaborator Adam Toddhunter, the campaign takes place at a fictional hotel playing on the classic tropes of corridor mazes in cartoons and film – doorways to nowhere, multiple sightings of Da Silva, peepholes, and unexpected encounters.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 1 Dec. 2025
Here’s the fateful weekly cartoon meeting, where the final 60 contenders (out of 1,000 weekly submissions) get sorted into yes, no, or maybe baskets.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
The items included a Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty and the Krabby Patty Kollab Burger, which was the chain's take on the iconic cartoon burger.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
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MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Directed by long-term Palace collaborator Adam Toddhunter, the campaign takes place at a fictional hotel playing on the classic tropes of corridor mazes in cartoons and film – doorways to nowhere, multiple sightings of Da Silva, peepholes, and unexpected encounters.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 1 Dec. 2025
Here’s the fateful weekly cartoon meeting, where the final 60 contenders (out of 1,000 weekly submissions) get sorted into yes, no, or maybe baskets.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
The items included a Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty and the Krabby Patty Kollab Burger, which was the chain's take on the iconic cartoon burger.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 Dec. 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 2 Dec. 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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