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

Miranda Kerr recently detailed her ultra healthy, if a bit unique, diet, which includes eating venison for breakfast and cutting out eggs altogether. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Meats most commonly linked to AGS are beef, pork, lamb, and venison. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

Think high-country venison (or salmon depending on the season) topped with blueberry jus and rhubarb confit, velvety wild mushroom pâté, and impeccably plated dishes that blend French technique with subtle Asian influences. — Michelle Gross, Robb Report, 30 July 2026

High levels of CoQ10 are found in reindeer (venison), beef, and pork. — Verywell Health, 16 July 2026

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"