carnage
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of carnage
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French, from Italian carnaggio, from Medieval Latin carnāticum “payment or offering in meat,” equivalent to Latin carn- (stem of carō ) “flesh” + -āticum noun sufffix; see -age
Explanation
Carnage is mass murder. If you have seen news footage of a village after a bomb has been detonated, you probably saw a scene of carnage. Carnage comes from the Latin carnaticum, meaning "flesh" or "slaughter of animals." Carnage is often used to describe the brutal killing of many people, but can also refer to large numbers of animals that have been butchered.
Vocabulary lists containing carnage
Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
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Persepolis
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Achievement First 7th Grade IA 1 Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We'd do everything together - three brothers just always messing about and play-fighting - just carnage really.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
But it also holds out the possibility, through the destiny of Dicey’s baby, of a more hopeful future emerging from the carnage and injustice of history.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
You can see the carnage in the share prices of many of the firms most exposed to the industry.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026
Were you watching the carnage at Indianapolis’ Gainsbridge Fieldhouse Sunday?
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026
I should be more relieved that a Muslim isn’t responsible, but all I can think of is the carnage.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
