# cannibal

/ˈkænəbəɫ/ (US) · /kˈænɪbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cannibal
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. eater of own species

noun · CEFR B2

a person who eats human flesh, or an animal that eats other animals of the same type.

For teachers: an organism, especially a human, that consumes the flesh of its own species.

- In the movie, the survivors were terrified of meeting a cannibal in the jungle.
- Biologists observed that certain species of spiders exhibit cannibalistic behaviour when food sources become scarce in their natural habitat.

### 2. a type of boat

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Slang

a very old word for a specific kind of boat.

For teachers: an elliptical reference to a cannibal boat; this usage is now considered obsolete.

- The old sailor spoke of the cannibals that once sailed these coastal waters.
- Historical maritime records from the nineteenth century occasionally refer to these vessels simply as cannibals, though the term has long since vanished from nautical jargon.

## Examples

- The movie tells a scary story about a cannibal living in the woods.
- Biologists observed that certain species of spiders act as cannibals when food sources become extremely scarce in their habitat.
- The explorer's journals contained sensationalized and likely fabricated accounts of meeting cannibals, reflecting the colonial prejudices of the era rather than anthropological reality.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.