Definition of omnivore
:one that is omnivorous
- Bears and coyotes are omnivores.
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Read the Latest from M-W
Recent Examples of omnivore from the Web
-
There are junk food, nutrient-deficient vegan diets and junk food, nutrient-deficient omnivore diets.
-
But many bears already seem to be thriving in areas where the trees aren't found, a reminder that in many ways grizzlies are omnivores that can be quite adaptable.
-
But for omnivores, the draw will be the pork platter, a meaty choose-your-own adventure of pork products, all made from whole animals broken down in Kaden's kitchen.
-
So far, some of what Martinez has found sounds like standard fare for toothy omnivores that live near population centers.
-
Apparently, horses and other herbivores are more at risk for anthrax infections than badgers and pigs, which are omnivores.
-
One possibility for their last common ancestor, writes Devlin, is a cat-sized omnivore called Saltopus elginensis, unearthed in a quarry in Scotland.
-
Turkey vultures prefer herbivores (vegetarians) over carnivores (meat eaters) or omnivores (eats anything).
-
The omnivores will also eat almost anything, from leather to backyard fruit, though many prefer wild prey, even when living in cities.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'omnivore.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Classic omnivore
Human beings seem to be classic omnivores. Originally living as "hunter-gatherers", we hunted and fished when possible but also gathered nuts, berries, fruits, seeds, and roots for much of our diet. We're physically well suited for both tasks; our hands are perfect for picking things, and our build is ideal for running down even the fastest game animals because of our great stamina. Some 10,000 years ago humans began practicing agriculture involving both animals and plants. The other omnivorous mammals include chimpanzees, pigs, opossums, porcupines, bears, raccoons, chipmunks, mice and rats, and skunks. But even many mammals classed as carnivorous turn out to be capable of shifting to plant foods when necessary.
Origin and Etymology of omnivore
New Latin omnivora, neuter plural of omnivorus, from Latin
Other Ecology Terms
OMNIVORE Defined for English Language Learners
OMNIVORE Defined for Kids
Learn More about omnivore
-
See words that rhyme with omnivore Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about omnivore
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up omnivore? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
