noun
herbivore
HUR-bi-vor
Herbivore (noun) means an animal that feeds on plants rather than on other animals. Example: “Cows, rabbits and grasshoppers are all herbivores.”
noun
1
An animal that feeds on plants rather than on other animals.
"Cows, rabbits and grasshoppers are all herbivores."
"Herbivores in the park strip the young saplings each spring."
How to use herbivore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn animal that eats plants.
When to use it
Neutral; standard biology vocabulary taught from primary school.
Memory tip
The -vore ending always means eater; herbi-, carni- and omni- tell you what is eaten.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
large herbivores
grazing herbivores
herbivore diet
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Cows, rabbits and grasshoppers are all _____.
Etymology
From Latin herba 'grass, plant' and vorare 'to devour'.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for herbivore
See all rhymes for herbivore →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a herbivore and a vegetarian?
Herbivore describes an animal whose biology suits a plant diet, including its teeth and digestive system. Vegetarian describes a human choosing not to eat meat. A cow is a herbivore; a person is a vegetarian.
Is it a herbivore or an herbivore?
British English pronounces the h and writes a herbivore. American English often drops the h in this word's related forms, so an herbivore is common there. Both are correct in their own varieties.
What is the difference between a herbivore, a grazer and a browser?
Grazers and browsers are types of herbivore. Grazers such as zebra eat grass at ground level; browsers such as giraffes eat leaves, shoots and fruit from shrubs and trees.
What is the meaning of herbivore?
"herbivore" (noun) means an animal that feeds on plants rather than on other animals.
