noun

omnivore

OM-nih-vor

Omnivore (noun) means an animal that eats both plant and animal food rather than being restricted to one or the other. Example: “Bears are omnivores, taking berries, roots, fish and carrion as the season allows.”

noun

An animal that eats both plant and animal food rather than being restricted to one or the other.

"Bears are omnivores, taking berries, roots, fish and carrion as the season allows."

"Humans evolved as omnivores, which is why our teeth include both grinding molars and tearing canines."

A person who eats meat as well as plant foods, as opposed to a vegetarian or vegan.

"The menu is designed so that omnivores and vegans can share the same table."

figurative Someone with wide and undiscriminating appetites in a non-food sense, especially in reading or culture.

"He is a cultural omnivore who will happily go from grime to Gregorian chant in one afternoon."

How to Use Omnivore

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn animal or person that eats both plants and meat.

When to use it

Neutral; used in biology and in everyday dietary talk.

Memory tip

The -vore ending always means 'eater', so omni- 'all' plus -vore gives 'eater of everything'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

herbivore → carnivore → insectivore flexitarian

Common pairings

opportunistic omnivore omnivorous diet omnivores and herbivores

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Bears are _____, taking berries, roots, fish and carrion as the season allows.

Etymology

From Latin omnis 'all' and vorare 'to devour', so literally 'all-eating'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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generalist feeder

Antonyms

herbivore carnivore vegan vegetarian

Related Words

vegetarian vegan predator carnivore herbivore carnation

Rhymes for omnivore

ore bore tore yore lore more core fore sore gore pore amore

See all rhymes for omnivore →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an omnivore and a carnivore?

A carnivore lives mainly or entirely on the flesh of other animals, while an omnivore digests both animal and plant matter and can survive on either. Many animals labelled carnivores, such as foxes, are in practice opportunistic omnivores.

Are humans really omnivores?

Yes, biologically. Human dentition, gut length and digestive enzymes suit a mixed diet, and populations worldwide have thrived on diets ranging from almost entirely animal to almost entirely plant. Being an omnivore describes what the body can process, not what any individual chooses to eat.

What is the adjective from omnivore?

Omnivorous. You can say 'raccoons are omnivorous' or 'she has omnivorous taste in music'.

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