vegetarian

vegetarian — noun

IPA/ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/
KK[vˌɛdʒətˈɛrˌiən]IPA/ˌvedʒəˈteriən/
  • vegetariansingular
  • vegetariansplural

1. someone who avoids eating the flesh of animals as a personal choice, often for h

1.nounA2
Definition

someone who avoids eating the flesh of animals as a personal choice, often for health, faith, or ethical reasons

Example

Henry has been a vegetarian for five years and avoids meat in all his meals.

has been a vegetarian + for [time period]

The restaurant near Sari's office offers a separate menu for vegetarians.

separate menu for vegetarians

Common collocations
  • strict vegetarian
  • lifelong vegetarian
  • practicing vegetarian
  • become a vegetarian
  • go vegetarian
Synonyms
  • herbivore

    scientific term for animals that eat plants; not used for people in everyday speech

  • plant-eater

    informal and less common; may describe both animals and people

Antonyms
  • meat-eater

    informal; someone whose diet includes meat

  • carnivore

    scientific term for meat-eating animals; rarely used for people outside of joking contexts

Grammar Patterns

vegetarian + verb

become a vegetarian

Usage Note

Often modified by prefixes that specify which animal products are allowed: 'lacto-ovo-vegetarian' (dairy and eggs OK), 'lacto-vegetarian' (dairy OK, no eggs), 'ovo-vegetarian' (eggs OK, no dairy).

Common Mistakes

My sister is a vegetarian and she never eats chicken or fish.
My sister is a vegetarian and she never eats meat or fish.
Most vegetarians do not eat chicken or fish, so the sentence is contradictory.
I am a strict vegetarian who eats eggs and drinks milk.
I am a lacto-ovo-vegetarian.
'Strict vegetarian' often implies no animal products at all; use 'lacto-ovo-' to specify which products are included.

vegetarian — adjective

IPA/ˌvedʒ.ɪˈteə.ri.ən/
KK[vˌɛdʒətˈɛrˌiən]IPA/ˌvedʒ.əˈter.i.ən/

Word family

  • vegetarianism
    nounB2
  • vegan
    nounB1
  • vegan
    adjectiveB1
  • veganism
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms describe people who limit meat consumption, but the restrictions differ. A vegetarian (the most common term) excludes meat, poultry, and fish but may eat dairy and eggs. A vegan goes further, excluding all animal products including dairy, eggs, and honey. A flexitarian is primarily vegetarian but occasionally eats meat or fish — the focus is on reduction, not elimination. A pescatarian excludes meat and poultry but includes fish and seafood. A lacto-ovo-vegetarian is simply a precise term for what most people mean by 'vegetarian' (dairy and eggs allowed). When choosing a label, consider the listener: 'vegetarian' is the everyday word; 'vegan' is widely understood; 'flexitarian' and 'pescatarian' are less familiar and may need explanation. For example: 'Reema is a vegetarian who eats cheese, but her sister is a vegan who avoids all animal products.'

veganflexitarianpescatarianlacto-ovo-vegetarian

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • strictly vegetarian
  • mostly vegetarian
  • traditionally vegetarian

Phrases

  • go vegetarian
  • turn vegetarian
  • stay vegetarian

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'vegetarian' was coined in the 1840s by the founders of the Vegetarian Society in England. It was built from the word 'vegetable' (meaning a plant used as food) and the suffix '-arian', which is used to form nouns meaning 'a person who believes in or supports something' (like 'humanitarian' or 'liberalitarian'). The older Latin root is 'vegetabilis', meaning 'growing' or 'flourishing'. Before 'vegetarian' was coined, people who avoided meat were called 'Pythagoreans', after the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who promoted a meat-free diet.