carcass

American  

[kahr-kuhs] / ˈkɑr kəs /

Or carcase

noun

• carcasses
  plural

1. the dead body of an animal.

2. Slang. the body of a human being, whether living or dead.

3. the body of a slaughtered animal after removal of the offal.

4. anything from which life and power are gone.

   The mining town, now a mere carcass, is a reminder of a past era.

5. an unfinished framework or skeleton, as of a house or ship.

6. the body of a furniture piece designed for storage, as a chest of drawers or wardrobe, without the drawers, doors, hardware, etc.

7. the inner body of a pneumatic tire, resisting by its tensile strength the pressure of the air within the tire, and protected by the tread and other parts.

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verb (used with object)

1. to erect the framework for (a building, ship, etc.).

carcass British  

/ ˈkɑːkəs /

noun

1. the dead body of an animal, esp one that has been slaughtered for food, with the head, limbs, and entrails removed

2. informal a person's body

3. the skeleton or framework of a structure

4. the remains of anything when its life or vitality is gone; shell

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Synonym Usage

See body.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• carcassless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• carcasses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of carcass

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle French carcasse, from Italian carcassa; replacing Middle English carkeis, carkois, from Anglo-French, corresponding to Medieval Latin carcosium; ultimately origin obscure

Explanation

In the aftermath of Thanksgiving, after turkey sandwiches and turkey noodle soup and picking all the meat off, you're left with nothing more than turkey bones — or the carcass of your holiday bird. The gruesome word carcass is often used to describe the remains of a dead animal, especially one that's been slaughtered for food. But if that makes you squeamish, you can think of carcasses in a more figurative light, because a carcass could also mean "the inner structure of something." The carcass of an old burned out building, for example, refers to its remaining walls and beams. Or think of the carcass of the couch, its inner foundation, which is supporting your rear right now.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

carcass carcasses

In Chobe, a wildlife-rich district in northern Botswana near the borders with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, a local MP raised concerns after residents reportedly collected portions directly from a carcass at a school.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Among the main events is kok-boru, a horseback sport where riders must gain control of a goat carcass and throw it into the opponent's goal.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

“We’d have the carcass of Head Start,” Garvin said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

One orca held the carcass steady, allowing the other to strike it with greater precision.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

Clarisse drove to the drakoris carcass and looped a grappling line through its eye sockets.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

A new Australian study suggests that zoo lions behave more like their wild counterparts when they are given whole animal carcasses as part of a feast and fast feeding schedule.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

They also fed more frequently and for longer stretches as they tore apart, pulled at, manipulated, and consumed the carcasses.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

As for the deer carcasses, some of the meat will feed endangered California condors, bald eagles and foxes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

But in the Kimana reserve, AFP journalists saw six carcasses on Wednesday -- some fresh, others older -- with rangers also observing partial paralysis, preventing the animals from standing.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

There are insect carcasses everywhere, squashed against the windowpanes and walls, languishing in pools of water behind the taps of the sink.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• frame
• framework
• hulk
• skeleton
• structure