omnivorous

adjective

om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈni-v(ə-)rəs How to pronounce omnivorous (audio)
1
: feeding on both animal and vegetable substances
omnivorous animals
2
: avidly taking in everything as if devouring or consuming
an omnivorous reader
omnivorous curiosity
omnivorously adverb

Examples of omnivorous in a Sentence

She is an omnivorous reader. a child with omnivorous curiosity
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Caterpillar damage: Orange tortrix, tussock moth, fruit tree leafroller, tent caterpillar and omnivorous looper feed on rose leaves. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025 Compared to the average omnivorous diet with high amounts of red meat, the Mediterranean diet reduces rates of type II diabetes by 16% and cancer by 7%, as well as dying from coronary heart disease by 26%. Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The researchers were able to categorize the remaining results into six of the most common diets, from vegan to pescatarian to omnivorous. Anna Bader, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2025 Additionally, both vegan and vegetarian children tend to have lower bone mineral content compared to their omnivorous peers. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for omnivorous

Word History

Etymology

Latin omnivorus, from omni- + -vorus -vorous

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of omnivorous was circa 1656

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Omnivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omnivorous. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

omnivorous

adjective
om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce omnivorous (audio)
: feeding on both animal and vegetable substances

Medical Definition

omnivorous

adjective
om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce omnivorous (audio)
: eating both animal and plant matter
omnivorously adverb
omnivorousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on omnivorous

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