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
Examples of roadkill in a Sentence
There is a lot of roadkill along the highway.
Recent Examples on the Web
The invention of the wheel was followed, probably seconds later, by the invention of roadkill.
—
Timothy Farrington, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2023
The great irony of roadkill is this: Its most conspicuous victims tend to be those least in need of saving.
—Ben Goldfarb, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2023
Vultures, ravens and other cunning scavengers are ascendant, their diets subsidized by roadkill.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Vehicles kill a whole bunch of deer each year as well, with several Midwestern states claiming annual roadkills over 50,000 animals.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 31 Aug. 2023
Visitors who flocked in 2018 and again in 2021 to take in the smell described it as akin to their cat's litter box or roadkill.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 14 July 2023
That’s Holmes County, where the CWD-positive deer was found as roadkill.
—Ike Morgan | Imorgan@al.com, al, 28 June 2023
The public is also encouraged to report roadkill deer and deer displaying unusual behavior to their local WFF District Office.
—Mike Bolton, al, 27 June 2023
Hunters and trappers have been enlisted to bring their harvests to researchers for testing, and wildlife crews collect animal carcasses in woods and scrape up roadkill to round out the picture.
—Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023
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Timothy Farrington, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2023
The great irony of roadkill is this: Its most conspicuous victims tend to be those least in need of saving.
—Ben Goldfarb, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2023
Vultures, ravens and other cunning scavengers are ascendant, their diets subsidized by roadkill.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Vehicles kill a whole bunch of deer each year as well, with several Midwestern states claiming annual roadkills over 50,000 animals.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 31 Aug. 2023
Visitors who flocked in 2018 and again in 2021 to take in the smell described it as akin to their cat's litter box or roadkill.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 14 July 2023
That’s Holmes County, where the CWD-positive deer was found as roadkill.
—Ike Morgan | Imorgan@al.com, al, 28 June 2023
The public is also encouraged to report roadkill deer and deer displaying unusual behavior to their local WFF District Office.
—Mike Bolton, al, 27 June 2023
Hunters and trappers have been enlisted to bring their harvests to researchers for testing, and wildlife crews collect animal carcasses in woods and scrape up roadkill to round out the picture.
—Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'roadkill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near roadkill
Cite this Entry
“Roadkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roadkill. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
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