plural cartoons
1
a
: a drawing in a newspaper or magazine intended as a humorous comment on something
a political cartoon
b
: a series of drawings that tell a story : comic strip
She enjoys reading the cartoons in the Sunday paper.
2
: a film or television show made by photographing a series of drawings : an animated film or television show
The kids are watching cartoons.
a cartoon character
3
technical
: a design, drawing, or painting made by an artist as a model for the finished work
Cite this Entry
“Cartoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cartoon. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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