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

There is a little Island Shop, open for half an hour on Tuesdays and Sundays, that sells homemade frozen meals such as fish pie, lamb tagine venison casserole, and staple ingredients. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026

It was also discovered that the third soldier had helped with getting rid of some of the venison Keyser obtained illegally. —Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026

The company makes several flavors in beef, venison, and turkey recipes—taco-seasoned, jalapeño, habanero, and smoky barbecue—giving you a big bang of flavor. —Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026

Krejci said the couple now produces about 65% of their total food needs on their homestead, including nearly all of their produce, eggs, poultry, venison and maple syrup. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 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"