cruelty-free

adjective

cru·​el·​ty-free ˈkrü(-ə)l-tē-ˈfrē How to pronounce cruelty-free (audio)
: developed or produced without inhumane testing on animals
cruelty-free cosmetics

Examples of cruelty-free in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Made of faux leather, the fabric is high-quality, water-resistant, and cruelty-free. Izzy Baskette, People.com, 22 May 2025 The line is vegan and cruelty-free, and formulated in an Australian lab. Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 21 May 2025 The vegan, cruelty-free line is made with cactus leather, and celebs including Alicia Silverstone, Eve Harlow and Chaley Rose have been snapped with the purses. Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025 During its time under L’Oréal, The Body Shop experienced: Mission mismatch: A brand built on anti-corporate and cruelty-free values clashed with L’Oréal’s scale-first ethos. Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cruelty-free

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cruelty-free was in 1983

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cruelty-free.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruelty-free. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on cruelty-free

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!