Autophagic cell death (ACD) is a process where cells exhibit large-scale accumulation of autophagosomes, leading to a vacuolated appearance. However, the term ACD is debated as a misnomer, as it may not always indicate that autophagy is the mechanism of cell death. The article reviews the history of ACD, its morphological characteristics, and the debate over whether autophagy is a key effector of cell death. It discusses the distinction between cell death with autophagy and cell death by autophagy, and highlights the limitations of current definitions and studies. The article also addresses the role of autophagy in cell survival and death, and the potential for autophagy to be a protective mechanism rather than a lethal one. It concludes that the term ACD may be misleading, and that autophagy's role in cell death remains unclear. The article emphasizes the need for further research to clarify the relationship between autophagy and cell death.Autophagic cell death (ACD) is a process where cells exhibit large-scale accumulation of autophagosomes, leading to a vacuolated appearance. However, the term ACD is debated as a misnomer, as it may not always indicate that autophagy is the mechanism of cell death. The article reviews the history of ACD, its morphological characteristics, and the debate over whether autophagy is a key effector of cell death. It discusses the distinction between cell death with autophagy and cell death by autophagy, and highlights the limitations of current definitions and studies. The article also addresses the role of autophagy in cell survival and death, and the potential for autophagy to be a protective mechanism rather than a lethal one. It concludes that the term ACD may be misleading, and that autophagy's role in cell death remains unclear. The article emphasizes the need for further research to clarify the relationship between autophagy and cell death.