cancel culture
Americannoun
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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.
-
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.
Etymology
Origin of cancel culture
First recorded in 2015–20
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.
Students really enjoy Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” — it’s all about the human condition and cancel culture, forbidden love and lies and deceit, with witches in the forest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
As a college undergraduate myself, I’m frustrated with cancel culture too.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
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 ● Oct. 6, 2025
And since 2018, these other countries have begun importing stories about cancel culture.
From Slate ● Jan. 5, 2025
In an earlier interview with Salon, Daub argued that accusations of "cancel culture" are typically aimed at younger or lower-status people, specifically so higher-status folks don't have "to reflect on their own practices."
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2024
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.
