Elk vs. Venison — What's the Difference?

The elk (Cervus canadensis), also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America, as well as Central and East Asia. It is often confused with the larger Alces alces, which is called moose in North America, but called elk in British English, and related names in other European languages (German Elch, Swedish älg, French élan).

Venison originally meant the meat of a game animal but now refers primarily to the meat of elk or deer (or antelope in South Africa). Venison can be used to refer to any part of the animal, so long as it can be consumed, including the internal organs.

A large reddish-brown or grayish deer (Cervus canadensis) of western North America, having long, branching antlers in the male. The elk is sometimes considered a subspecies of the closely related red deer. Also called wapiti.

The flesh of a deer used as food.

Chiefly British The moose.

(Archaic) The flesh of a game animal used as food.

A light, pliant leather of horsehide or calfskin, tanned and finished to resemble elk hide.

The meat of a deer.

Any of various large species of deer such as the red deer, moose or wapiti (see usage notes).

(South Africa) The meat of an antelope.

Any of the subspecies of the moose (Alces alces, alternatively named Eurasian elk to avoid confusion with the wapiti), that occurs only in Europe and Asia.

(obsolete) The meat of any wild animal that has been hunted rather than raised domestically.

Any moose (Alces alces), the largest member of the deer family.

Beasts of the chase.

(North America) common wapiti (Cervus canadensis), the second largest member of the deer family, once thought to be a subspecies of red deer.

Formerly, the flesh of any of the edible beasts of the chase, also of game birds; now, the flesh of animals of the deer kind exclusively.

(British India) Sambar (Cervus unicolor).

Meat from a deer used as food

A large deer, of several species. The European elk Alces alces (formerly Alces machlis or Cervus alces) is closely allied to the American moose. The American elk, or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis) the largest member of the deer family, has large, spreading antlers and is closely related to the European stag. See Moose, and Wapiti.

The European wild or whistling swan (Cygnus ferus).

A member of the fraternal organization named Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, supporting various services to their communities.

Large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called elk in Europe and moose in North America