herbivorous

adjective

her·​biv·​o·​rous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbi-və-rəs 

-ˈbiv-rəs

: feeding on plants

herbivory

ˌ(h)ər-ˈbi-və-rē 

noun

Did you know?

Many herbivorous animals, such as rabbits, deer, sheep, and cows, are noted for their gentle and passive ways. But such behavior is not universal among herbivores. Rhinoceroses and elephants, for instance, are capable of inflicting serious damage if threatened, and among dinosaurs, the herbivorous Diplodocus had a thick tail that could be used as a lethal weapon against attacking carnivores. Herbivorous humans are usually called vegetarians.

Examples of herbivorous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additional prints found nearby might have represented a large herbivorous sauropod dinosaur called Paluxysaurus, which is the official state dinosaur of Texas. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2025

In this case, the combatants are, to one side, a group of 100 unspecified men — and, on the other, a single gorilla, one of those noble herbivorous great apes found in equatorial Africa. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2025

Four of them came from the footfalls of some herbivorous sauropod, likely a Cetiosaurus. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025

The researchers performed calcium isotope analysis on tooth enamel from three herbivorous dinosaurs, one carnivorous dinosaur, and a crocodyliform (Eutretauranosuchus). —Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin herbivorus, from Latin herba grass + -vorus -vorous

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for herbivorous

• carnivorous
• omnivorous
• insectivorous

Kids Definition

herbivorous

adjective

her·​biv·​o·​rous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbiv-ə-rəs 

: eating or living on plants

Medical Definition

herbivorous

adjective

her·​biv·​o·​rous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbiv-ə-rəs 

1

: feeding on plants

herbivorous mammals

2

: having a stout body and a long small intestine : endomorphic

herbivorously adverb