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

I made my first stock after Thanksgiving, when my mom threw a turkey carcass at me and said, “Use this.”

From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026

A whale carcass was reportedly spotted on Thursday off the Danish island of Anholt, located between Denmark and Sweden.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

Within the last week it has also emerged that another sheep carcass has been dumped in a roadside field near a GAA club in Augher, near Clogher.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

Some birds traveled up to 155 kilometers in a single day, flying in direct paths toward places where a carcass was likely to appear, even though the exact timing of a kill cannot be predicted.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 19, 2026

Georges and Robert laid the sheep carcass at the base of the tree.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

In the spring of 2023, as epic winter snows melted, horse carcasses emerged along the shores of South Tufa and nearby Navy Beach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

The walls were full of asbestos, mold and rodent carcasses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

She was elated that authorities are taking allegations against the rescue seriously but overwhelmed by the “horrible darkness” of the carcasses discovered.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Jellyfish, worms and crustaceans are among the community of creatures living off the huge spread of carcasses.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026

Smoke thickened the air, making the herbs that hung from the rafters look like dangling carcasses.

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi

Related Words

• frame
• framework
• hulk
• skeleton
• structure