venison

noun

ven·​i·​son ˈve-nə-sən 

also -zən

British usually ˈven-zən

plural venisons also venison

: the edible flesh of a game animal and especially a deer

Examples of venison in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most pick pork, beef or lamb, and chicken, though plenty include rabbit, venison, or squirrel. —Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026

Larger plates might include venison wrapped in chicken mousse (a nod to the Japanese sando), or pumpkin steeped in bacon dashi. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Expect warming Scottish fare of venison pies, sea trout, sticky date pudding, and an extraordinary whisky list, including house exclusives like the secret-recipe Badger Juice, only available on property. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

For her two Boerboels, their diet includes rotating proteins like turkey, duck, venison and rabbit along with organ meats and supplements. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English venisoun "game animal, meat of a game animal," borrowed from Anglo-French veneisun, going back to Latin vēnātiōn-, vēnātiō "hunting, game animals," from vēnārī "to go hunting, hunt" (probably derivative of a nominal stem *wēn- "hunting, of the hunt," lengthened-grade derivative of a verbal stem *wen- "wish, desire") + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at venus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Video

Words of the Year: 1066

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

Kids Definition

venison

noun

ven·​i·​son ˈven-ə-sən 

also -ə-zən

: the flesh of a deer used as food

Etymology

Middle English venison "the flesh of a game animal hunted for food," from early French veneisun "flesh of hunted animals, venison," from Latin venation-, venatio, "hunting," from venari "to hunt"