cartoon
Americannoun
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cartoons
plural
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a sketch or drawing, usually humorous, as in a newspaper or periodical, symbolizing, satirizing, or caricaturing some action, subject, or person of popular interest.
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Fine Arts. a full-scale design for a picture, ornamental motif or pattern, or the like, to be transferred to a fresco, tapestry, etc.
adjective
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a humorous or satirical drawing, esp one in a newspaper or magazine, concerning a topical event
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Also called: comic strip. a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a comic or adventurous situation
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See animated cartoon
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a full-size preparatory sketch for a fresco, tapestry, mosaic, etc, from which the final work is traced or copied
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of cartoon
First recorded in 1665–75; from Italian cartone “pasteboard, stout paper, a drawing on such paper,” equivalent to cart(a) “paper” ( see carte) + -one augmentative suffix
Explanation
A cartoon makes a brief, funny comment using illustrations and is often found on television, in a newspaper or in a magazine. The Simpsons and Snoopy? Both cartoons. A cartoon can be a satirical or humorous drawing, a series of illustrations (also called a comic strip), or an animated film. Many kids grow up watching new and classic cartoons on TV. Political cartoons manage to sum up an often complex idea in one simple panel. When you criticize a character or a real person for being a cartoon, you mean that they are overly simplified or exaggerated: "I hate that show because all the women are cartoon characters." The word comes from the Italian cartone, "strong, heavy paper."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
You might be capable of drawing a nifty cartoon, but good luck selling it on the blockchain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
John Cena, Bauza’s “Coyote vs. Acme” co-star, said the voice actor’s passion for legacy cartoon characters “was always evident” and expressed his condolences to Bauza’s family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
The following year, an episode of the long-running US cartoon addressed the controversy surrounding the Indian character for the first time, making a nod to the accusations, but some viewers found it insufficient.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
What passes for story amounts to little more than a two-dimensional cartoon rendered in human-flesh puppetry, courtesy of actors capable of much better, Cardellini included.
From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026
I tell her all of this while I stare at a poster on the opposite wall of a cartoon hedgehog washing his hands.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Participating media organisations, including the New York Times, Reuters and the Kyiv Independent, are sharing editorials, ads and cartoons to highlight the value of "trusted journalism".
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
In his 1989 book “Chuck Amuck: The Life and Times of an Animated Cartoonist,” Jones codified his rules for the cartoons, like “The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going ‘Beep-Beep!’”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
The monk had appeared at a magistrate's hearing to support military intelligence officers accused of abducting Prageeth Eknaligoda, whose cartoons were critical of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
If anything like the present product, it would have to have been a very particular kind of comedy — something like “30 Rock,” whose beats were borrowed from cartoons in the first place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
That summer, I practiced English by watching cartoons, and spent as much time as I could with the youth group.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
