venison

noun

ven·​i·​son ˈve-nə-sən 

 also  -zən,

 British usually  ˈven-zən

plural venisons also venison

: the edible flesh of a game animal and especially a deer

Examples of venison in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Expect mostly classic American fare—the deer camp pie, an Upper Peninsula riff on shepherd’s pie with venison, is a personal favorite. —Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2025

Some might prefer this chili with venison, but ground chuck works just fine. get the recipe 10 of 15 Doritos Casserole Turn your grandpa's favorite snack into his favorite casserole by using Doritos in this take on a tortilla-style casserole. —Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025

Gladys could have traveled faster alone, but her companions invited her to stay with them until noon and join them for a venison dinner. —Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025

Over the winter, people chow down on the venison steaks, sausage, and burgers made from the animals. —Jim Robbin, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English venisoun "game animal, meat of a game animal," borrowed from Anglo-French veneisun, going back to Latin vēnātiōn-, vēnātiō "hunting, game animals," from vēnārī "to go hunting, hunt" (probably derivative of a nominal stem *wēn- "hunting, of the hunt," lengthened-grade derivative of a verbal stem *wen- "wish, desire") + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at venus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Video

Words of the Year: 1066

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

Kids Definition

venison

noun

ven·​i·​son ˈven-ə-sən 

 also  -ə-zən

: the flesh of a deer used as food

Etymology

Middle English venison "the flesh of a game animal hunted for food," from early French veneisun "flesh of hunted animals, venison," from Latin venation-, venatio, "hunting," from venari "to hunt"