carnivorous
Americanadjective
-
flesh-eating.
A dog is a carnivorous animal.
- Synonyms:
- predacious, predatory
-
of the carnivores.
adjective
-
(esp of animals) feeding on flesh
-
(of plants such as the pitcher plant and sundew) able to trap and digest insects and other small animals
-
of or relating to the Carnivora
-
informal aggressively ambitious or reactionary
Other Word Forms
- carnivorism noun
- carnivorously adverb
- carnivorousness noun
- noncarnivorous adjective
- noncarnivorously adverb
- noncarnivorousness noun
- uncarnivorous adjective
- uncarnivorously adverb
- uncarnivorousness noun
Etymology
Origin of carnivorous
1640–50; < Latin carnivorus, equivalent to carni- (combining form of carō flesh) + -vorus -vorous
Explanation
Vegetables? Forget it. If you're into eating meat, meat and more meat, then you're carnivorous. Not surprisingly, the adjective carnivorous can be traced back to the Latin word for "flesh." Carnivorous eaters get their fill of other animals, so they've also got a reputation for being savage or predatory. So anyone who stalks around like a lion on the hunt could also be described as carnivorous, even if they're a card-carrying vegetarian.
Vocabulary lists containing carnivorous
Mockingbird
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Sea of Monsters
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 14–August 20, 2021
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Red foxes are one of the most prevalent carnivorous mammals globally and are found in Europe, Asia and North America as well as in parts of Africa.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
Modern research shows that all carnivorous species consume carrion to some degree.
From Science Daily • Jan. 19, 2026
They weren’t allowed to experiment with mammals, including rats, so they isolated tissue samples from anglerfish, the carnivorous bottom-feeders with razor sharp teeth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025
Some carnivorous pitcher plants reflect UV light as part of their display, using colour, scent and nectar to lure prey.
From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025
The Acromantula is carnivorous and prefers large prey.
From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
