venison

noun

ven·​i·​son ˈve-nə-sən 

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

Two pounds of ground chuck or venison add a hearty base to this soup that's fit for a Texas dinner table. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025

Plymouthcolonists and Wampanoag Indians sat down together to an autumn feast of venison and wild fowl. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2025

Think pokeviché, acai bowls, Lanai venison nachos, and catch of the day fish tacos. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025

The menu is comprised of wild elk, bison, and venison, along with salmon and local seafood, all complemented with root vegetables and fresh greens. —Pamela MacNaughtan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Nov. 2025

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

Video

Words of the Year: 1066

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

Kids Definition

venison

noun

ven·​i·​son ˈven-ə-sən 

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"