Hannibal

American  

[han-uh-buhl] / ˈhæn ə bəl /

noun

1. 247–183 b.c., Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps and invaded Italy (son of Hamilcar Barca).

2. a port in NE Missouri, on the Mississippi: Mark Twain's boyhood home.

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Hannibal British  

/ ˈhænɪbəl /

noun

1. 247–182 _bc , Carthaginian general; son of Hamilcar Barca. He commanded the Carthaginian army in the Second Punic War (218–201). After capturing Sagunto in Spain, he invaded Italy (218), crossing the Alps with an army of about 40 000 men and defeating the Romans at Trasimene (217) and Cannae (216). In 203 he was recalled to defend Carthage and was defeated by Scipio at Zama (202). He was later forced into exile and committed suicide to avoid capture

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Hannibal Cultural  

1. A general from the ancient city of Carthage. During the second of the Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome, Hannibal took an army of more than 100,000, supported by elephants, from Spain into Italy in an effort to conquer Rome. The army had to cross the Alps, and this troop movement is still regarded as one of the greatest in history. Hannibal won several victories on this campaign but was not able to take Rome.

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Compare meaning

How does hannibal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Hannibal vs. Scipio

Example Sentences

Your daughter could be marrying Hannibal Lecter and if the D.J. at the wedding played “September” you’d still get up and dance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

The popularity of Mr. Harris’s later novels featuring Hannibal faded: “Hannibal” was dismissed by Martin Amis as being, “on all levels, a snorting, rooting, oinking porker.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

For fans of “The Silence of the Lambs,” the connection between the so-called Dr. Salazar and Hannibal Lecter is uncannily similar.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

Tunisia midfielder Hannibal Mejbri was luckly to escape a yellow card for dissent after reacting angrily when a Nigerian took a foul throw, flinging the ball into the ground.

From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025

His favorite job was caring for Hannibal the elephant, but he’d managed to mess that up, too—giving Hannibal indigestion by feeding him peanuts.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan