cannibal

[ kan-uh-buhl ]

noun

1. a person who eats human flesh, especially for magical or religious purposes, as among certain tribal peoples.
2. any animal that eats its own kind.

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a cannibal.
2. given to cannibalism.

cannibal

/ ˈkænɪbəl /

noun

1. 1. a person who eats the flesh of other human beings
   2. ( as modifier )

      cannibal tribes

2. an animal that feeds on the flesh of others of its kind

Other Words From

• canni·bal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannibal¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish caníbal, variant of caríbal, from canib-, caribe (from Taíno; Carib ( def ) ) + -al -al ¹; from the belief that the Caribs of the West Indies ate human flesh

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannibal¹

C16: from Spanish Canibales, name used by Columbus to designate the Caribs of Cuba and Haiti, from Arawak caniba, variant of Carib

Example Sentences

Odd tangents by Trump, such as about the fictional cannibal Hannibal Lecter or the late golfer Arnold Palmer’s genitalia, have also become routine.

From Los Angeles Times

"Monster" originally debuted in 2022 with another notable Wisconsin murderer: Jeffrey Dahmer, the Milwaukee Cannibal known for murdering — and in several cases, consuming — 17 men and boys from 1978 to 1991.

From Salon

It captured something important but not quite previously articulated about our era, which is that its Republican leaders have an objectively unusual number of connections to people who admire Adolf Hitler, believe that cannibal pedophilia is widespread in the United States, and say things about “the purpose of the postmenopausal female.”

From Slate

He was inspired by some of his favourites from the genre such as Halloween, The Hills Have Eyes and Tobe Hooper's dread-inducing tale of unwitting teenagers encountering a cannibal family, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

From BBC

The question for the Democrats now is, can they close this cannibal buffet and come together in time to defeat the felon?

From Salon

Related Words

• anthropophaginian
• anthropophagite
• anthropophagus
• man-eater
• people-eater