cancel culture

American  

[kan-suhl kuhl-cher] / ˈkæn səl ˌkʌl tʃər /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of cancel culture

First recorded in 2015–20

Example Sentences

And as “After the Hunt” assesses the futility of so-called cancel culture, the film carefully avoids assigning guilt, reminding the viewer that there is still plenty of gray area between good and bad.

From Salon

Ms Weiss, who started her career working at Jewish news outlets, is known for her support of Israel and her criticism of "cancel culture".

From BBC

Professors and journalists, too, are facing punishment for their comments, provoking a debate over so-called cancel culture.

From BBC

Was Deen really an early victim of the fictitious celebrity boogeyman now known as “cancel culture,” or was she appropriately harangued?

From Salon

There has been the backlash to #MeToo, which often paints aggressors as victims of “cancel culture” and the victims as the true bad guys.

From Salon