carnivore

noun

car·​ni·​vore ˈkär-nə-ˌvȯr How to pronounce carnivore (audio)
1
a
: an animal (such as a dog, fox, crocodile, or shark) that feeds primarily or exclusively on animal matter : a carnivorous animal
Among the plankton are numerous diminutive but voracious carnivores, including small jellyfishes and comb jellies, saber-toothed creatures called arrowworms or chaetognaths, and a host of crustaceans and small fishes.Gregory A. Wray
As big as a bull elephant, T. rex weighed 15 times as much as the largest carnivores living on land today.Erik Stokstad
Carnivores [=people who eat meat] will appreciate the restaurant's refined version of surf-and-turf: steak au poivre matched with sweet, large prawns.Matthew DeBord
b
: any of an order (Carnivora) of animals that feed primarily or exclusively on animal matter : carnivoran
Farther back in their mouths lie some special teeth known as the carnassials. These are the hallmark of the true carnivores, or canivorans—members of a great order of placental mammals, the Carnivora.Richard H. Tedford
2
: a carnivorous plant
the Venus flytrap and other carnivores subsisting on insects

Examples of carnivore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web All of this had to happen while the meat was still fresh and before nightfall, when carnivores would scavenge the carcass. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2024 No doubt some vegetarians would cringe at the thought, as would some dedicated carnivores. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Call it the ultimate two-point conversion: These recipes might just make the most hardcore carnivore rethink their stance. Maya Wong, Sunset Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024 But there is something carnivores and health-conscious vegans can likely agree on. Carina Woudenberg, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 Within the carnivore’s stomach were four legs—two pairs—from small, bird-like dinosaurs called Citipes elegans. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023 Spiders are widespread predators in most cave systems: more than 1,000 species of the leggy carnivores reside in caves. Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 20 Dec. 2023 Some carnivores, primates and hoofed mammals did have larger males. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 Read more Step aside, wolves: The next Colorado wildlife reintroduction could be the elusive wolverine Colorado could return another native carnivore to its mountains if state lawmakers pass a bill allowing for the reintroduction of wolverines. The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carnivore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Latin carnivorus

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of carnivore was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near carnivore

Cite this Entry

“Carnivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnivore. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

carnivore

noun
car·​ni·​vore ˈkär-nə-ˌvō(ə)r How to pronounce carnivore (audio)
-ˌvȯ(ə)r
1
: a flesh-eating animal
especially : any of an order of flesh-eating mammals
2
: a plant that traps and digests insects
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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