cancel culture

[ kan-suhl kuhl-cher ]

noun

1. the phenomenon or practice of publicly rejecting, boycotting, or ending support for particular people or groups because of their socially or morally unacceptable views or actions:

   Cancel culture can ruin careers, but it can also make a public figure think twice before posting controversial comments.

2. the shared attitudes and values within a particular segment of society that lead to such public rejection of particular people or groups:

   In a cancel culture, we appoint ourselves the arbiters of right and wrong.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cancel culture¹

First recorded in 2015–20

Example Sentences

Now the energy that grew in 2020 is being undercut by hysteria over critical race theory, resistance to investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, and the fight over so-called cancel culture.

From Vox

Recently, the horse trainer Bob Baffert even tried to blame cancel culture after his Kentucky Derby-winning horse, Medina Spirit, tested positive for an illegal substance.

From Washington Post

However unsuccessful, these early pickets against corporate giants served as the group’s first foray into cancel culture.

From Washington Post

George Will’s 2021 Opening Day Baseball QuizThe MAD turn in our cancel culture battlesVenturing out into the post-covid world is definitely weird — and completely worth it

From Washington Post

In fact, my efforts to understand a small claim of cancel culture suggest that it’s less intentional but more pervasive than we realize.

From Washington Post