roadkill

noun

road·​kill ˈrōd-ˌkil How to pronounce roadkill (audio)
1
: the remains of an animal that has been killed on a road by a motor vehicle
2
: one that falls victim to intense competition
political roadkill
road-killed adjective

Examples of roadkill in a Sentence

There is a lot of roadkill along the highway.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The state removed them from the list in 2005 after reported roadkill and other mortalities increased in the early 2000s, according to a former furbearer biologist for DNR. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Nov. 2024 Bats, spiders, cemeteries, unseen creatures living in our homes– even roadkill– have stories to tell and important lessons to teach us. Bob Hirshon, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024 These days biologists are examining tracks for many purposes, from forestalling wildlife conflicts to averting roadkill. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 Someone — forgive the reference to other strange RFK Jr. stories — is bound to end up as roadkill. Robin Abcarian, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for roadkill 

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roadkill was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near roadkill

Cite this Entry

“Roadkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roadkill. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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