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
But the characters are expressive, and the medium is used to unreal ends, which is, after all, what cartoons are good for.
—
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Even the Dodgers, the cartoon villains of spending, kind of sort of have a limit.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
The looks grew even more puzzled when Weir, known as the most boyishly handsome member of the Dead, grew facial hair, prompting comparisons to a Civil War reenactor or the cartoon character Yosemite Sam.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
The official logline for the show describes it as a modern reimagining of the popular cartoon show.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Even the Dodgers, the cartoon villains of spending, kind of sort of have a limit.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
The looks grew even more puzzled when Weir, known as the most boyishly handsome member of the Dead, grew facial hair, prompting comparisons to a Civil War reenactor or the cartoon character Yosemite Sam.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
The official logline for the show describes it as a modern reimagining of the popular cartoon show.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 17 Feb. 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 21 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
