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
Billboard is 'just too valuable' to sell, owner says
The political cartoon is just the latest political critique that Fiorito, who is based in California, has leveled by way of the Phoenix billboard.
—
Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
The idea was inspired by 1945's Anchors Away, in which Kelly danced with Jerry Mouse from the beloved cartoon Tom and Jerry.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 6 July 2025
Mariya spends a significant portion of her days as this cartoon character, at once wholly real while being completely artificial.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
On view are countless covers (including Kadir Nelson’s 2020 George Floyd issue), rare manuscripts, photographs, founding documents and an archive of the magazine’s cartoon art.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
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Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
The idea was inspired by 1945's Anchors Away, in which Kelly danced with Jerry Mouse from the beloved cartoon Tom and Jerry.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 6 July 2025
Mariya spends a significant portion of her days as this cartoon character, at once wholly real while being completely artificial.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
On view are countless covers (including Kadir Nelson’s 2020 George Floyd issue), rare manuscripts, photographs, founding documents and an archive of the magazine’s cartoon art.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 3 July 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 12 Jul. 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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