cannibal

American  

[kan-uh-buhl] / ˈkæn ə bəl /

noun

1. a person who eats human flesh, especially for magical or religious purposes, as among certain tribal peoples.

2. any animal that eats its own kind.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a cannibal.

2. given to cannibalism.

cannibal British  

/ ˈkænɪbəl /

noun

1. 1. a person who eats the flesh of other human beings

   2. ( as modifier )

      cannibal tribes

2. an animal that feeds on the flesh of others of its kind

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Other Word Forms

• cannibally adverb

Etymology

Origin of cannibal

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish caníbal, variant of caríbal, from canib-, caribe (from Taíno; Carib ( def. ) ) + -al -al ¹; from the belief that the Caribs of the West Indies ate human flesh

Example Sentences

Montaigne “has seen too much of gentlemen in the long robe, until he wishes for cannibals,” he suggests.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mencken remarked on the politician who had some cannibals among his constituents that “he would promise them missionaries for dinner.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“I’ve worked with cannibals,” Dobson said at one point in the episode.

From The Wall Street Journal

What makes “Heated Rivalry” so special is that its queer characters are allowed to embrace joy and take their time to develop a connection without deadly viruses and cannibals at their door.

From Salon

Like Guo’s version of Ishmael, Ahab, and the “cannibal” Queequeg, all who keep beautifully to the spirit of Melville’s characters, Guo’s inclusion of a Chinese sage to the story is another fascinating innovation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anthropophaginian
• anthropophagite
• anthropophagus
• man-eater
• people-eater