carcass

noun

car·​cass ˈkär-kəs 

1

: a dead body : corpse

especially : the dressed body of a meat animal

Butchers trimmed the meat from the carcass.

2

: the living, material, or physical body

It was nearly noon when he finally hauled his carcass out of bed.

3

: the decaying or worthless remains of a structure

the carcass of an abandoned automobile

4

: the underlying structure or frame of something (as of a piece of furniture)

Synonyms of carcass

• corpse

Examples of carcass in a Sentence

the rusting carcass of an old truck

the carcass of a squirrel that had been run over

Recent Examples on the Web

By decomposing carcasses and dung, insects likely reduce disease transmission among wild vertebrates. — Chris Elphick, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026

The Colorado Republican caucus is officially the Republican carcass. — Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026

In November of 1970, Linnman went to the coastal town of Florence, Oregon, where the carcass of a forty-five-foot sperm whale had washed up on the beach. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2026

The hunters decided to try winching the carcass off the ground so that the meat could cool. — Rich Larocco, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English carcays, from Anglo-French carcas, carkeis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for carcass

• arcus

Kids Definition

carcass

noun

car·​cass ˈkär-kəs 

: a dead body

especially : the body of a meat animal prepared for market

Medical Definition

carcass

noun

car·​cass ˈkär-kəs 

: a dead body : corpse

especially : the dressed body of a meat animal