comic strip

American  

noun

comic strips plural

1. a sequence of drawings, either in color or black and white, relating a comic incident, an adventure or mystery story, etc., often serialized, typically having dialogue printed in balloons, and usually printed as a horizontal strip in daily newspapers and in an uninterrupted block or longer sequence of such strips in Sunday newspapers and in comic books.

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comic strip British  

noun

1. Also called: strip cartoon.  a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a humorous story or an adventure

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• comic strips
  plural

Etymology

Origin of comic strip

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20

Example Sentences

Launched in 1970, Garry Trudeau’s comic strip would become a mainstay of American politics and culture, remaining so for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

I’m starting to think large numbers of American voters — and especially conservatives — have never read the “Peanuts” comic strip.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

The creator of the “Dilbert” comic strip had battled prostate cancer for many years.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

Scott Adams, the US cartoonist who wrote and illustrated the comic strip Dilbert, has died of cancer at the age of 68.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

The play, Annie, is based on an American comic strip called "Little Orphan Annie," and when Annie's Sandy speaks, in the balloon over his head is written Arf!

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

Related Words

• cartoon
• comic