cancel culture

[ kan-suhl kuhl-cher ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the phenomenon or practice of publicly rejecting, boycotting, or ending support for particular people or groups because of their socially or morally unacceptable views or actions:
Cancel culture can ruin careers, but it can also make a public figure think twice before posting controversial comments.
the shared attitudes and values within a particular segment of society that lead to such public rejection of particular people or groups:
In a cancel culture, we appoint ourselves the arbiters of right and wrong.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cancel culture¹

First recorded in 2015–20

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Example Sentences

Mr Burns said the GAA "is not interested in cancel culture".

From BBC

Media coverage of parental estrangement has gotten entangled with other buzzy topics like "cancel culture" or articles scolding young women who are unwilling to date Trump voters.

From Salon

"That review identified evidence of a concerning practice of social ostracism among students, often referred to as a cancel culture," the coroner said.

From BBC

You describe cancel culture as a moral panic, similar to the Satanic panic of the 1980s.

From Salon

Or to get mad about "cancel culture" or make-believe slights from liberals.

From Salon

cancel canceled check

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