carcass

noun

car·​cass ˈkär-kəs 

1

: a dead body : corpse

especially : the dressed body of a meat animal

Butchers trimmed the meat from the carcass.

2

: the living, material, or physical body

It was nearly noon when he finally hauled his carcass out of bed.

3

: the decaying or worthless remains of a structure

the carcass of an abandoned automobile

4

: the underlying structure or frame of something (as of a piece of furniture)

Synonyms

• bones
• cadaver
• corpse
• corpus
• corse [archaic]
• relics
• remains
• stiff

Examples of carcass in a Sentence

the rusting carcass of an old truck

the carcass of a squirrel that had been run over

Recent Examples on the Web

The carnivorous marine isopods typically scavenge carcasses on the seafloor, but may also eat live prey. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

The mute swans’ carcasses were recovered Nov. 26 from Mather Lake at Mather Regional Park by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. —Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025

The fear of environmental transmission has led to regulations in states across the country preventing people from dumping carcasses along roadsides or transporting them across state lines, which most researchers will argue is a good thing. —Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024

The mammoth is one of seven mammoth carcasses found worldwide. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English carcays, from Anglo-French carcas, carkeis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

carcass

noun

car·​cass ˈkär-kəs 

: a dead body

especially : the body of a meat animal prepared for market

Medical Definition

carcass

noun

car·​cass ˈkär-kəs 

: a dead body : corpse

especially : the dressed body of a meat animal