cartoon
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cartoon, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A humorous or satirical drawing, often with a caption.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cartoon
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From French carton, ultimately from Italian cartone ("large sheet of paper"). It originally meant an artist's full-size preparatory sketch, later coming to mean a comic drawing.
Full origin of cartoon →Frequently asked questions
What does “cartoon” mean?
The word “cartoon” means a humorous or satirical drawing, often with a caption. In plain terms, a humorous drawing or an animated show.
How do you pronounce “cartoon”?
“Cartoon” is pronounced kah-TOON (/kɑɹˈtun/ in IPA).
How do you use “cartoon” in a sentence?
Here is “cartoon” used in a sentence: “The newspaper printed a cartoon mocking the new tax policy.”
What part of speech is “cartoon”?
Depending on how it is used, “cartoon” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cartoon” come from?
The word “cartoon” comes from French. From French carton, ultimately from Italian cartone ("large sheet of paper"). It originally meant an artist's full-size preparatory sketch, later coming to mean a comic drawing.
Is “cartoon” a common word?
“Cartoon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “cartoon” have?
“Cartoon” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a humorous or satirical drawing, often with a caption.
What is the difference between a cartoon and anime?
Cartoon is the broad English word for an animated film or show, as well as for a humorous drawing. Anime refers specifically to animation from Japan or made in the distinctive Japanese style; in English usage, all anime is animation, but not every cartoon is anime.
What is the difference between a cartoon and a comic?
A cartoon in print is typically a single humorous or satirical drawing, often with a caption. A comic or comic strip tells a story through a sequence of drawn panels, so a one-panel gag is a cartoon while a multi-panel sequence is a strip.
What is a political cartoon?
A political cartoon is a satirical drawing that comments on politicians, policies, or current events, usually through caricature and symbolism and often with a caption. It belongs to the original sense of cartoon as a humorous or satirical drawing rather than an animated film.
Why is a preparatory drawing in art called a cartoon?
In fine art, a cartoon is a full-size preparatory drawing made for a painting, fresco, or tapestry — the word's original English sense, taken from an Italian term for a large sheet of paper. The meaning later shifted to humorous drawings in print and eventually to animated films.