cannibalism

American  

[kan-uh-buh-liz-uhm] / ˈkæn ə bəˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. the eating of human flesh by another human being.

2. the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of its own kind.

3. the ceremonial eating of human flesh or parts of the human body for magical or religious purposes, as to acquire the power or skill of a person recently killed.

4. the act of pecking flesh from a live fowl by a member of the same flock.

5. the removal of parts, equipment, assets, or employees from one product, item, or business in order to use them in another.

6. the acquisition and absorption of smaller companies by a large corporation or conglomerate.

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cannibalism British  

/ ˈkænɪbəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the act of eating human flesh or the flesh of one's own kind

2. savage and inhuman cruelty

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Other Word Forms

• cannibalistic adjective
• cannibalistically adverb
• noncannibalistic adjective
• noncannibalistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of cannibalism

First recorded in 1790–1800; cannibal + -ism

Example Sentences

Arriving in Los Angeles to pitch the half-baked reality show, she takes the opportunity to lobby “Death and Taxidermy”’s showrunner, unsuccessfully, to rethink the cannibalism and dragons now written into it.

From Salon

Some descriptions of the “My Humps” cover from male critics: not funny, smug, witless, self-conscious, pop music cannibalism, dreadful and completely missing the point.

From Salon

“Crispy Skin,” from the English experimental rock band Squid’s upcoming third album, “Cowards,” is at once bright and nightmarish — a driving, six-minute post-punk tune inspired by a dystopian novel about cannibalism.

From New York Times

Up to almost half of black bears die within their first year of life, most often due to cannibalism, starvation or abandonment.

From Los Angeles Times

The study shows that cases of this behavior, including cell cannibalism, are widespread across the tree of life.

From Science Daily