cartoon
Americannoun
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cartoons
plural
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a sketch or drawing, usually humorous, as in a newspaper or periodical, symbolizing, satirizing, or caricaturing some action, subject, or person of popular interest.
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Fine Arts. a full-scale design for a picture, ornamental motif or pattern, or the like, to be transferred to a fresco, tapestry, etc.
adjective
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a humorous or satirical drawing, esp one in a newspaper or magazine, concerning a topical event
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Also called: comic strip. a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a comic or adventurous situation
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See animated cartoon
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a full-size preparatory sketch for a fresco, tapestry, mosaic, etc, from which the final work is traced or copied
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of cartoon
First recorded in 1665–75; from Italian cartone “pasteboard, stout paper, a drawing on such paper,” equivalent to cart(a) “paper” ( see carte) + -one augmentative suffix
Explanation
A cartoon makes a brief, funny comment using illustrations and is often found on television, in a newspaper or in a magazine. The Simpsons and Snoopy? Both cartoons. A cartoon can be a satirical or humorous drawing, a series of illustrations (also called a comic strip), or an animated film. Many kids grow up watching new and classic cartoons on TV. Political cartoons manage to sum up an often complex idea in one simple panel. When you criticize a character or a real person for being a cartoon, you mean that they are overly simplified or exaggerated: "I hate that show because all the women are cartoon characters." The word comes from the Italian cartone, "strong, heavy paper."
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.
See Examples For:
To extend the horror-movie metaphors even further, Trump is such a crude cartoon character that if he isn’t the Terrifier then maybe he’s Pinhead from “Hellraiser.”
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026
The cartoon began as a preschool animation on YouTube called Fire Spike!, which was about the adventures of a dragon and his friends.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
John Cena, Bauza’s “Coyote vs. Acme” co-star, said the voice actor’s passion for legacy cartoon characters “was always evident” and expressed his condolences to Bauza’s family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
I’ve yet to see a law firm’s online people directory featuring cartoon partner portraits, for example.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
It didn’t take long for Nunu to get sucked into the cartoon.
From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers
Instead of the suburban setting common to so many cartoons — including Nickelodeon’s “Doug” — “Hey Arnold!” was set firmly in the inner city, a vibrantly gritty amalgam of Seattle, Portland and Brooklyn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Participating media organisations, including the New York Times, Reuters and the Kyiv Independent, are sharing editorials, ads and cartoons to highlight the value of "trusted journalism".
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
In his 1989 book “Chuck Amuck: The Life and Times of an Animated Cartoonist,” Jones codified his rules for the cartoons, like “The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going ‘Beep-Beep!’”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
The monk had appeared at a magistrate's hearing to support military intelligence officers accused of abducting Prageeth Eknaligoda, whose cartoons were critical of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
And I could tell you right now it wasn’t ’cause we were bored or ’cause we love cartoons so much.
From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
