paleo
Paleo (noun) means a way of eating based on foods thought to have been available to hunter-gatherers — meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds — while excluding grains, pulses, dairy, refined sugar and processed foods. Example: “She has been doing paleo since January.”
How to use paleo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEating only foods a caveman could have eaten — no grains, dairy or processed food.
Everyday in food and fitness contexts; the 'ancient' sense is academic.
Paleo-friendly on a label means it fits the diet's rules, not that it is ancient.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She has been doing _____ since January.
Etymology
From Greek palaios, meaning ancient or old — the same root as in palaeolithic and palaeontology. British English spells the prefix palaeo-, American English paleo-.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for paleo
See all rhymes for paleo →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between paleo and keto?
Paleo is defined by which foods are allowed — nothing farmed or processed after the Stone Age — and permits fruit, honey and starchy vegetables. Keto is defined by macronutrients: carbohydrate is cut low enough to shift the body into ketosis, but dairy and artificial sweeteners are fine. A meal can be both, but neither implies the other.
Can you eat dairy on paleo?
Strictly, no — milk, cheese and yoghurt arrived with farming, so standard paleo excludes them. Many people follow a looser version that allows butter, ghee or full-fat dairy.
Is paleo spelled paleo or palaeo?
The diet is almost always written paleo, since the term spread from American usage. In scientific British English the prefix keeps its older spelling: palaeolithic, palaeontology.
What is the meaning of paleo?
"paleo" (noun) means a way of eating based on foods thought to have been available to hunter-gatherers — meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds — while excluding grains, pulses, dairy, refined sugar and processed foods.