Did you know?
In its original sense, offal refers to something that has fallen or been cast away from some process of preparation or manufacture, and it has been used to describe such things as the stalks and dust from tobacco leaves, the less valuable portions of an animal hide, the by-products of milling grain, and the viscera and trimmings of a butchered animal. The word offal, however, is not an etymological cast-off, but is an English original that arose in the late 14th century as a combination of of (the Middle English spelling of "off") and fall, aptly naming that which "falls off" or is cast aside from something else. Since the late 16th century, offal has also been used as a synonym for trash, garbage, and rubbish.
Examples of offal in a Sentence
Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Fernandez suggested seeking pleasure in offal, such as by cooking a new dish.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
When eating muscle meat daily became a possibility, many people opted out of offal.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
The wolves are fed a diet of beef, horse, and deer meat as well as liver and other offal, along with puppy chow to provide vital nutrients.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offal
Cite this Entry
“Offal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offal. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
offal
noun
Share