: dead and putrefying flesh
Vultures live chiefly on carrion.
also
: flesh unfit for food
Examples of carrion in a Sentence
Vultures live chiefly on carrion.
Recent Examples on the Web
The researchers also found evidence that the condors’ carrion of choice changed as animal populations shifted across the region.
—
Byjack Tamisiea, science.org, 2 May 2023
Coyotes also clean up carrion, remove sick animals from the gene pool, and protect crops and gardens.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024
Many animals feed on carrion opportunistically, when the occasion arises.
—Natalie Angier, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
If the animal had been treated with diclofenac in the days before its death, the tainted carrion would cause kidney failure in the vultures, followed by visceral gout, in which uric acid crystallizes across their organs.
—Meera Subramanian, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024
The protein and fat from carrion would have fueled the early humans’ brain and body growth.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023
As pure carnivores who lack the ability to process plant material, household and feral cats are always on the prowl for prey to hunt or carrion to scavenge.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2023
Vultures need the bulk to help weather carrion scarcity, but their heaviness makes active flying, with wings flapping, especially costly.
—Natalie Angier, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
As scavengers, the birds feast primarily on roadkill, carrion and other animals’ leftovers.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
Byjack Tamisiea, science.org, 2 May 2023
Coyotes also clean up carrion, remove sick animals from the gene pool, and protect crops and gardens.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024
Many animals feed on carrion opportunistically, when the occasion arises.
—Natalie Angier, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
If the animal had been treated with diclofenac in the days before its death, the tainted carrion would cause kidney failure in the vultures, followed by visceral gout, in which uric acid crystallizes across their organs.
—Meera Subramanian, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024
The protein and fat from carrion would have fueled the early humans’ brain and body growth.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023
As pure carnivores who lack the ability to process plant material, household and feral cats are always on the prowl for prey to hunt or carrion to scavenge.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2023
Vultures need the bulk to help weather carrion scarcity, but their heaviness makes active flying, with wings flapping, especially costly.
—Natalie Angier, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
As scavengers, the birds feast primarily on roadkill, carrion and other animals’ leftovers.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carrion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near carrion
Cite this Entry
“Carrion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrion. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
carrion
noun
car·ri·on
ˈkar-ē-ən 
: dead and decaying flesh
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share