omnivorous

adjective

om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈni-v(ə-)rəs 

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

Then, they were randomly assigned either a nine-day vegan or omnivorous eating plan designed by the scientists. —New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025

This is not entirely a net negative, or at least not for everyone; background shows can have their place in an omnivorous TV diet. —Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025

His omnivorous intellect went from one topic to another, exploring them in minute detail. —Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025

Most of the meat humans eat comes from plant eating or omnivorous species — our typical meat doesn’t usually eat meat. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin omnivorus, from omni- + -vorus -vorous

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for omnivorous

• carnivorous
• herbivorous
• insectivorous

Kids Definition

omnivorous

adjective

om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs 

: feeding on both animal and vegetable substances

Medical Definition

omnivorous

adjective

om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs 

: eating both animal and plant matter

omnivorously adverb

omnivorousness noun