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:
When Acharya's Instagram account was first restricted, Taneja drew a stick-figure cartoon in solidarity.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
You might be capable of drawing a nifty cartoon, but good luck selling it on the blockchain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 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
What passes for story amounts to little more than a two-dimensional cartoon rendered in human-flesh puppetry, courtesy of actors capable of much better, Cardellini included.
From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026
But then—and this is a miraculous part—we’re walking down the cartoon street when a light approaches behind us.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Ms. Corn examines “American Gothic” as the physical object that hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago and the “art icon” that has been adapted for political cartoons, greeting cards, advertisements and re-enactments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
He compares cartoons and humour to a "shape-shifting virus".
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 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
If anything like the present product, it would have to have been a very particular kind of comedy — something like “30 Rock,” whose beats were borrowed from cartoons in the first place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Leo thought those were something you only saw in cartoons.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
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