animation

American  

[an-uh-mey-shuhn] / ˌæn əˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. animated quality; liveliness; vivacity; spirit.

   to talk with animation.

   Synonyms:

   sprightliness, exhilaration, ardor, enthusiasm, energy, vigor

   Antonyms:

   sluggishness

2. an act or instance of animating or enlivening.

3. the state or condition of being animated.

4. Graphic Arts

   1. a dynamic visual medium produced from static drawings, models, or objects posed in a series of incremental movements that are then rapidly sequenced to give the illusion of lifelike motion.

   2. the process of preparing such animation, as for films, cartoons, video games, etc.

   3. a product of such animation, as a film or cartoon.

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animation British  

/ ˌænɪˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. liveliness; vivacity

2. the condition of being alive

3. 1. the techniques used in the production of animated cartoons

   2. a variant of animated cartoon

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Other Word Forms

• interanimation noun
• nonanimation noun
• overanimation noun

Etymology

Origin of animation

1590–1600; 1910–15 animation for def. 4; (< Middle French ) < Latin animātiōn- (stem of animātiō a bestowing of life). See animate, -ion

Example Sentences

In May, two additional workshops will be hosted, where a professor at Cal State Long Beach will teach an animation class.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

OpenAI also appears to be winding down ChatGPT’s video functionality and taking all its animation APIs offline.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Still, she’s planning to add a marketing minor—along with her animation and games major—in case AI makes finding work in her chosen field too difficult.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

"I feel like it's not only the quality of the animation itself," Seol says.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

A typical show consists of at least forty distinct segments, none more than about three minutes — street scenes with the actors and Muppets, animation, and short films from outside the studio.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell