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)
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
Yellowstone park officials deemed it too dangerous and destructive to retrieve the carcass, which will break down until only bones remain.
—
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 July 2025
But poaching for feathers and eggs, poisoning from consuming lead ammunition in carcasses, and habitat destruction caused the condors’ population to crash.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
And, within 24 hours, the animal’s carcass—including its hide—must be provided to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for biological data collection.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
In late April, the striking carcass of an 11-foot, 2-inch oarfish — something rarely seen in the wild — was put on display, becoming an instant hit among children.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for carcass
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Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 July 2025
But poaching for feathers and eggs, poisoning from consuming lead ammunition in carcasses, and habitat destruction caused the condors’ population to crash.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
And, within 24 hours, the animal’s carcass—including its hide—must be provided to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for biological data collection.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
In late April, the striking carcass of an 11-foot, 2-inch oarfish — something rarely seen in the wild — was put on display, becoming an instant hit among children.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for carcass
Cite this Entry
“Carcass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcass. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
carcass
noun
car·cass
ˈkär-kəs 
: a dead body
especially
: the body of a meat animal prepared for market
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