vegetarian

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noun veg·e·tar·i·an \ˌve-jə-ˈter-ē-ən\

Definition of vegetarian

1 : a person who does not eat meat : someone whose diet consists wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products
2 : herbivore

See vegetarian defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of vegetarian from the Web

In the peak of summer, this a great option for vegetarians and carnivores looking to have a lighter lunch.

— nate erickson, Esquire, "A Handy Cured Meat Guide for Everyone Except David Brooks," 11 July 2017
While classic burgers are made with ground beef and served on a bun, there are all sorts of variations, including international versions made with lamb and pork, plus veggie burgers for vegetarians and vegans.

— OregonLive.com, "18 bang-up burgers to celebrate July 4th: Best of Recipe Box," 30 June 2017
But for vegetarians, Seattle Lotus will likely be a paradise.

— rachel lerman, The Seattle Times, "Seattle Lotus: A vegetarian’s paradise in White Center," 29 June 2017
Their meal varieties target the busy professional, the athlete and bodybuilder, vegetarians and vegans, workers trying to stay healthy and consumers who just don’t want to cook.

— marcia heroux pounds, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Meal delivery: Broward and Palm Beach-based companies vie for national market," 16 June 2017
So move over carnivores, and salad-bar grazing days be gone: Here are the five very best cruise lines for vegetarians and vegans.

— elissa garay, CNT, "5 Best Cruises for Vegans and Vegetarians," 15 June 2017
Calcium Dairy products are an excellent source of calcium for vegetarians who include them in their diets.

— dr. manny alvarez, Fox News, "What vegetarians need to eat during pregnancy," 9 June 2017
Some vegetarians use supplements to get enough B12, but that’s usually not necessary.

— dr. manny alvarez, Fox News, "What vegetarians need to eat during pregnancy," 9 June 2017
Vegetarian menu includes starters from $7 to $11, small plates from $3 to $5, salads from $7 to $12, sandwiches from $10 to $12 and entrees for $14.

— shonda talerico dudlicek, Elgin Courier-News, "Emmett's Brewing Co. thrives on tradition," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vegetarian.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The difference between vegetarian, vegan, and other diets

The word vegetarian sprouted up in 1839. Fruitarian ("a person who lives on fruit") ripened by 1893. In 1944, vegetarians who consume no animal or dairy products began calling themselves vegans. Then, in 1993, those who eat fish but no other meat chose pesce, the Italian word for "fish," to create the designation pescatarian. In that same year, meatatarian was served up as a word for those whose diet largely includes meat; that word is rare, however, and is usually used in informal and humorous ways, making it the type of fare not included in our dictionaries. Another fairly recent dietary word is flexitarian, a person who follows a mostly vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish.

Origin and Etymology of vegetarian

¹veget(able) + -arian

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1839

See Words from the same year

Other Physiology Terms

eructation, flux, gustatory, menarche, myopia, senescence, torpor

vegetarian

adjective veg·e·tar·i·an

Definition of vegetarian

1 : of, relating to, or suitable for vegetarians a vegetarian restaurant
2 : not containing meat : consisting wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products a vegetarian diet vegetarian lunch