cancel culture

[kan-suhl kuhl-cher]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cancel culture¹

First recorded in 2015–20

Example Sentences

Mr. Roberts argued that to disavow Mr. Carlson would be to give in to a form of cancel culture, and insisted the conservative movement should remain a big tent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The piece argues that Republicans are being hypocritical given their attacks on “cancel culture” and “wokeism”—they cannot simultaneously claim that deplatforming is oppressive while refusing to condemn actual Nazis.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Is it now “cancel culture” to criticize Mr. Carlson for treating Mr. Fuentes like a political truth-teller and feeding him softball questions?

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It is fascinating that recent movies that attempt to grapple with contemporary sociopolitical issues often feminize the threat: the #MeToo cancel culture fable “Tár” or this year’s academia scandal film “After the Hunt.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I’ve said it before: I wish you could cancel cancel culture.

Read more on Los Angeles Times