omnivorous

[ om-niv-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. eating both animal and plant foods.
2. eating all kinds of foods indiscriminately.
3. taking in everything, as with the mind:

   an omnivorous reader.

omnivorous

/ ɒmˈnɪvərəs /

adjective

1. eating food of both animal and vegetable origin, or any type of food indiscriminately
2. taking in or assimilating everything, esp with the mind

Derived Forms

• omˈnivorousness, noun
• omˈnivorously, adverb

Other Words From

• om·nivo·rism noun
• om·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• om·nivo·rous·ness noun
• om·nivo·rism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of omnivorous¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin omnivorus “all-devouring”; equivalent to omni- + -vorous

Word History and Origins

Origin of omnivorous¹

C17: from Latin omnivorus all-devouring, from omni- + vorāre to eat greedily

Example Sentences

Robert Rogers, who spent 12 years as an omnivorous weight lifter before switching to a plant-based diet in 2020, thinks he looks "10 times better" than he did five years ago.

From Salon

Harrison has an omnivorous musical diet; only someone who has already listened to a lot of throat singing music would get served Huun-Huur-Tu by an algorithm.

From Los Angeles Times

We are omnivorous, we eat meat, and have been evolving alongside rodents for thousands of years.

From Science Magazine

For the omnivorous among us — and the Catholic school survivors — the thought of putting anything off limits immediately makes it all just that much more appealing.

From Salon

Short-billed gulls, known as mew gulls until 2021, are omnivorous and highly adaptable.

From Science Daily