venison

noun

ven·​i·​son ˈve-nə-sən How to pronounce venison (audio)
 also  -zən,
 British usually  ˈven-zən
plural venisons also venison
: the edible flesh of a game animal and especially a deer

Examples of venison in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Three daily gourmet meals are a part of the all-inclusive rate (expect to pay $587 per person/night or more) and the winter dining menu includes carmel apple venison, pheasant cordon bleu, duck confit perogies and rose glazed pink prawns. Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2024 On top of a lifetime hunting ban, Stamey will also fork over two guns, 14 mounts, venison, turkey parts, and $12,500 in restitution. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024 Generously season the pork belly and venison with salt and pepper. Jonathan Miles, Field & Stream, 15 Nov. 2023 The cat food instructions were to give her novel proteins such as ostrich, rabbit, venison and kangaroo. Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024 Chomps offers our current favorite meat sticks in beef, turkey, and venison. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 22 Jan. 2024 Residents trade bags of fish with northern villagers for blubber and with southern villagers for venison. Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023 Add sausage and/or meatballs—venison or otherwise—for some textural variety. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2023 To celebrate the occasion, the settlers gathered waterfowl like ducks and geese, and venison. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'venison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English venisoun "game animal, meat of a game animal," borrowed from Anglo-French veneisun, going back to Latin vēnātiōn-, vēnātiō "hunting, game animals," from vēnārī "to go hunting, hunt" (probably derivative of a nominal stem *wēn- "hunting, of the hunt," lengthened-grade derivative of a verbal stem *wen- "wish, desire") + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at venus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of venison was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near venison

Cite this Entry

“Venison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venison. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

venison

noun
ven·​i·​son ˈven-ə-sən How to pronounce venison (audio)
 also  -ə-zən
: the flesh of a deer used as food
Etymology

Middle English venison "the flesh of a game animal hunted for food," from early French veneisun "flesh of hunted animals, venison," from Latin venation-, venatio, "hunting," from venari "to hunt"

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