roadkill

noun

road·​kill ˈrōd-ˌkil How to pronounce roadkill (audio)
1
: the remains of an animal that has been killed on a road by a motor vehicle
2
: one that falls victim to intense competition
political roadkill
road-killed adjective

Examples of roadkill in a Sentence

There is a lot of roadkill along the highway.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What might look like a few grainy pixels to Waymo’s cameras one moment could be roadkill to swerve around the very next. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025 But closure of the North Rim and reduced traffic in the region has also reduced the amount of roadkill for the birds to scavenge. John Leos, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025 By this theory, Paleo dieters should probably be eating roadkill. Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025 Those didn’t even qualify as darlings, just roadkill on the highway to becoming someone else. Jane Ciabattari september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for roadkill

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roadkill was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“Roadkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roadkill. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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