herbivorous

[ hur-biv-er-uhs, ur- ]

adjective

1. feeding on plants.

herbivorous

/ hɜːˈbɪvərəs /

adjective

1. (of animals) feeding on grass and other plants
2. informal.
   liberal, idealistic, or nonmaterialistic

Derived Forms

• herˈbivorously, adverb
• herˈbivorousness, noun

Other Words From

• her·bi·vor·i·ty [hur-b, uh, -, vawr, -i-tee, -, vor, -], noun
• her·bivo·rous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of herbivorous¹

1655–65; < New Latin herbivorus; herb, -i-, -vorous

Example Sentences

Known in Argentina as carpinchos, capybaras are gentle and herbivorous, but they are hard to miss.

From Salon

However, the island is also home to an abundance of mostly herbivorous mammals big enough to crush a snake, including deer, pigs, sheep, cows, goats, and humans.

From Science Magazine

University of Sydney researchers have shown it is possible to shield plants from the hungry maws of herbivorous mammals by fooling them with the smell of a variety they typically avoid.

From Science Daily

The recent study didn’t focus on the bear’s alleged predatory behaviors against people, but it did find that when ranchers and farmers raised free-range livestock, grizzlies remained largely herbivorous.

From Los Angeles Times

After the Spanish arrived, the bears’ consumption of meat more than doubled—increasing from 10% to 26%, with one-third of that coming from livestock—but they remained mostly herbivorous.

From Science Magazine