Fact-check analysisVerified as of July 12, 2025Curated by FactVerify
True

Cannibal

A cannibal is defined as an individual who consumes the flesh or internal organs of another member of the same species, including humans who eat human flesh.

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Source: factverify.com

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Key Evidence

Verified July 12, 2025
The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim 'Cannibal' refers to a person who practices cannibalism, which is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. This definition is consistent across multiple authoritative sources. Human cannibalism specifically involves humans eating other humans, and this practice has been documented historically and in various cultural contexts.

The term 'cannibal' is also used more broadly in zoology to describe animals that consume members of their own species. The sources clarify that cannibalism occurs in many animal species and has been recorded in over 1,500 species, including humans. The concept is well established in anthropology, biology, and linguistics, with no significant dispute about the core definition.

Some sources also note cultural or ritualistic reasons for human cannibalism, but the fundamental meaning remains the consumption of one's own kind. Therefore, the claim that a 'cannibal' is one who eats the flesh of its own kind is accurate and supported by credible evidence.

Primary trail

Verified Sources4

CANNIBAL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

merriam-webster.com
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