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 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The book’s combination of a love story combined with themes of cannibalism has Guadagnino fans intrigued ahead of the Bones and All world premiere in Venice on Sept. 2. 
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 The three-part documentary tells the story of Dahmer's arrest and confession to a horrifying string of crimes, including murder, necrophilia and cannibalism. Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 Dahmer quickly confessed to 16 murders in Wisconsin over the previous four years, plus one more in Ohio in 1978, as well as unimaginable acts of necrophilia and cannibalism. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 29 Aug. 2022 Yellowjackets explores the human psyche and its dark subject matter, which includes cannibalism, challenges the viewer. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 If accurate, this beats out the previous record for the earliest known cannibalism by around 5o million years. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 13 Apr. 2022 This podcast also covers topics like cannibalism through the ages, questions what really caused Bruce Lee’s untimely demise, and what ties exist between Tupac and Biggie’s deaths. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2022 The team survives for 19 months before being rescued, and, in that time, possibly practices cannibalism. New York Times, 25 June 2022 The disgraced actor and alleged cannibalism fetishist is, in fact, working as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands, despite reports last week claiming to debunk the rumor, Variety reports. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 14 July 2022 See More
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 The three-part documentary tells the story of Dahmer's arrest and confession to a horrifying string of crimes, including murder, necrophilia and cannibalism. Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 Dahmer quickly confessed to 16 murders in Wisconsin over the previous four years, plus one more in Ohio in 1978, as well as unimaginable acts of necrophilia and cannibalism. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 29 Aug. 2022 Yellowjackets explores the human psyche and its dark subject matter, which includes cannibalism, challenges the viewer. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 If accurate, this beats out the previous record for the earliest known cannibalism by around 5o million years. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 13 Apr. 2022 This podcast also covers topics like cannibalism through the ages, questions what really caused Bruce Lee’s untimely demise, and what ties exist between Tupac and Biggie’s deaths. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2022 The team survives for 19 months before being rescued, and, in that time, possibly practices cannibalism. New York Times, 25 June 2022 The disgraced actor and alleged cannibalism fetishist is, in fact, working as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands, despite reports last week claiming to debunk the rumor, Variety reports. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 14 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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