cancel culture

noun

: the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling (see cancel entry 1 sense 1e) as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure

For those of you who aren't aware, cancel culture refers to the mass withdrawal of support from public figures or celebrities who have done things that aren't socially accepted today. This practice of "canceling" or mass shaming often occurs on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

—Demetria Slyt

At a Republican National Convention where speakers' rage about cancel culture has been clear, former Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann used his speaking slot to introduce himself as "the teenager who was defamed by the media."

—Hunter Woodall

Cancel culture is supported as a tool to stop offensive and harmful behavior, while others find it problematic and toxic.

—Elise Krumholz

cancel culture warriors

the cancel culture movement

also : the people who engage in or support this practice

I have to admit that I'm not opposed to the majority of legacies, groups of people, and trends being scrutinized by the cancel culture. In fact, the response to many of the ideologies and personalities that have been "cancelled" is, in most cases, long, long overdue. But I have a few concerns …

—Brad Peters

Examples of cancel culture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many walk a tightrope with fears of succumbing to the cancel culture. —Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

There are bits about cancel culture in how Stephen makes Catherine fall from grace, but the action rarely yields any real insight; an illustration of the decontextualizing force of social media recalls a similar thread in the Blanchett-starring Tár. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024

This gives voice to an increasingly popular (and occasionally overstated) perspective that there is no such thing as cancel culture, that comics called out never suffer real repercussions and, if anything, that their careers benefit. —Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024

Burr returns as host for the second time, having hosted in October 2020, raising eyebrows with his monologue that took on Covid deniers, cancel culture and Gay Pride Month. —Peter White, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2016, in the meaning defined above