cannibalism

noun

can·​ni·​bal·​ism ˈka-nə-bə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: the usually ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being

2

: the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of the same kind

3

: an act of cannibalizing something

cannibalistic

ˌka-nə-bə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

Examples of cannibalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the night goes on, the Mad Men star becomes convinced that there’s more to the Eater than mere cannibalism, coming to believe that her fellow male cops are being impacted by the killing machine. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024

Finding clean water is challenging, marauders roam the land, and some of the humans who remain have resorted to unthinkable behaviour, like cannibalism. —Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024

Reports from rescue missions, Inuit in the area and subsequent forensic and archaeological work on human and nonhuman remains have since pieced together part of the story, which includes ships stuck in winter ice, food gone bad, a desperate trip overland, and the likelihood of cannibalism. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024

Armie Hammer is addressing past rumors about cannibalism. —Jack Smart, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cannibalism

noun

can·​ni·​bal·​ism ˈkan-ə-bə-ˌliz-əm 

1

: the eating of human flesh by a human being

2

: the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of the same kind

cannibalistic

ˌkan-ə-bə-ˈlis-tik 

adjective

Medical Definition

cannibalism

noun

can·​ni·​bal·​ism -bə-ˌliz-əm 

1

: the usually ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being

2

: the eating of the flesh or the eggs of any animal by its own kind

3

: the pecking and tearing of the live flesh of its own members in a domestic poultry flock compare pecking order

4

: oral sadism