Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Word of the Day

Blog: Words at Play

Dictionary

carnage

noun car·nage \ˈkär-nij\

: the killing of many people

Full Definition of CARNAGE

1

: the flesh of slain animals or men

2

: great and usually bloody slaughter or injury (as in battle)

See carnage defined for English-language learners

See carnage defined for kids

ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of CARNAGE

French, from Medieval Latin carnaticum tribute consisting of animals or meat, from Latin carn-, caro

First Known Use: 1614

Related to CARNAGE

Synonyms: bloodbath, butchery, massacre, death, holocaust, slaughter

CARNAGE Defined for Kids

carnage

noun car·nage \ˈkär-nij\

Definition of CARNAGE for Kids

: ¹slaughter 3

Learn More About CARNAGE

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "carnage"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "carnage"

Nglish: Translation of "carnage" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "carnage" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: carnalPrevious Word in the Dictionary: CarnacianAll Words Near: carnage

ADVERTISEMENT

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up carnage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.

See All

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated