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

Historical records mention 90 members of the tribe, led by chief Massasoit, then decided to stay for the feast — later bringing the pilgrims five deer to put venison on the menu. —John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 26 Nov. 2024

That seems to be the mentality of Tamworth Distilling, anyway, which has made whiskey flavored with crab, venison, beaver oil, and even a Thanksgiving dinner. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024

Chapter, one of Hanoi’s newest fine-dining restaurants, offers an exceptional 12-course tasting menu, with ingenious dishes featuring tamarind, scallops, silverfish, duck and venison. —Chris Humphrey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024

Here are some of my favorite ways to prepare a venison backstrap. —Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 5 Dec. 2024

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"