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
These often casual racist depictions lasted well into the 20th century through mediums such as political cartoons, sports commentary and other popular culture.
—
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Mariah Carey dazzled as Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), bringing the sultry cartoon character to life with her glamorous style for Halloween 2023.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
In 1938, Charles Addams created an original cartoon in The New Yorker magazine that struck a chord with the strange part of minds everywhere.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
This past summer, Furtado wore an oversize white T-shirt featuring a cartoon image of a woman in a crop top and mini skirt while headlining the Manchester Pride festival.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
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Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Mariah Carey dazzled as Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), bringing the sultry cartoon character to life with her glamorous style for Halloween 2023.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
In 1938, Charles Addams created an original cartoon in The New Yorker magazine that struck a chord with the strange part of minds everywhere.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
This past summer, Furtado wore an oversize white T-shirt featuring a cartoon image of a woman in a crop top and mini skirt while headlining the Manchester Pride festival.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 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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