carrion

noun

car·​ri·​on ˈker-ē-ən 

ˈka-rē-

: 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

Their revolting stench attracts flies and other insects that are irresistibly drawn to the smell of carrion. —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Vultures have an important job to do scavenging carrion, which helps reduce the risk of diseases from spreading in the environment. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2025

The man spotted carrion birds flying overhead, too. —Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025

Like vultures sensing fresh carrion, some politicians began moving in with false information and nonsensical claims even as the flames of California’s most damaging fire ever still burned strongly in early January. —Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English caroine, from Anglo-French caroine, charoine, from Vulgar Latin *caronia, irregular from Latin carn-, caro flesh — more at carnal

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carrion

• carrion crow

Rhymes for carrion

• arion
• clarion
• hereon
• marian
• parian
• agrarian
• aquarian
• barbarian
• bavarian
• bulgarian
• cimmerian
• hungarian

Kids Definition

carrion

noun

car·​ri·​on ˈkar-ē-ən 

: dead and decaying flesh