roadkill

English

Alternative forms

• road kill

Etymology

road +‎ kill

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹəʊdˌkɪl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

roadkill (usually uncountable, plural roadkills)

1. (chiefly US) the killing of an animal by a road vehicle
2. (chiefly US) the animal(s) so killed

   Synonym: road pizza

   • 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:

     The van was heading straight for her and travelling faster and faster by the second. Zoe had to do something or she would be roadkill.

3. (by extension) a helpless victim

Derived terms

• roadkilled