noun
carnage
KAH-nihj
noun
1
Widespread death and destruction, especially from violence or disaster.
"The battlefield was a scene of total carnage."
"News crews arrived to film the carnage left by the tornado."
2
An overwhelming, one-sided defeat, especially in sport.
"The final score was pure carnage — 9-0."
How to Use Carnage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtreme destruction or slaughter — used both literally (war, disaster) and loosely (a lopsided game or messy situation).
Memory tip
It almost always implies something shocking or excessive, not just ordinary damage.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
scene of carnage
total carnage
leave a trail of carnage
Word Forms
carnages plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “carnage”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The battlefield was a scene of total _____.
Etymology
From Old French carnage, ultimately from Latin caro/carnis, meaning "flesh" — the same root found in "carnivore" and "incarnate."