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
His father came around the corner in time to see his arms poking up above the rim, a cartoon character in need of rescue.
—
Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Other marketing jobs on RentAHuman seem equally pointless, like a $25 street promo for a cryptography startup, or a $5 job reviewing AI generated cartoons.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Mar. 2026
The official logline describes the show as modern reimagining of the beloved cartoon.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
The memes are clearly invested in portraying Kennedy as an avuncular, larger-than-life cartoon hero.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
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Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Other marketing jobs on RentAHuman seem equally pointless, like a $25 street promo for a cryptography startup, or a $5 job reviewing AI generated cartoons.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Mar. 2026
The official logline describes the show as modern reimagining of the beloved cartoon.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
The memes are clearly invested in portraying Kennedy as an avuncular, larger-than-life cartoon hero.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 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 31 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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