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Synonyms

cartoon

American  
[kahr-toon] / kɑrˈtun /

noun

  1. a sketch or drawing, usually humorous, as in a newspaper or periodical, symbolizing, satirizing, or caricaturing some action, subject, or person of popular interest.

  2. comic strip.

  3. animated cartoon.

  4. 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

  1. resembling a cartoon or caricature.

    The novel is full of predictable, cartoon characters, never believable as real people.

verb (used with object)

  1. to represent by a cartoon.

verb (used without object)

  1. to draw cartoons.

cartoon British  
/ kɑːˈtuːn /

noun

  1. a humorous or satirical drawing, esp one in a newspaper or magazine, concerning a topical event

  2. Also called: comic strip.  a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a comic or adventurous situation

  3. See animated cartoon

  4. a full-size preparatory sketch for a fresco, tapestry, mosaic, etc, from which the final work is traced or copied

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • cartoonish adjective
  • cartoonist noun
  • uncartooned adjective

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” ( carte ) + -one augmentative suffix

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.

In South Korea, a playful green cartoon dinosaur named Dooly, known for the two small tufts of hair on his head, has been a favorite for generations.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

Why couldn’t the complexity have been the dialogue from the beginning, instead of the play-dumb cartoon “The AI Doc” feels like for so long?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

The cartoon chef’s name was Speedee, and “Speedee Service” was the McDonald’s promise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

As he spoke in the Oval Office on Monday, Vice President JD Vance hovered uncomfortably behind Trump’s left shoulder like a cartoon buzzard in waiting.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

“Coal made a cartoon portrait of me,” Bisa said at the same time.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.