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

• omˈnivorously, adverb
• omˈnivorousness, noun

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

If one had to describe his intellectual predilections in a word, it would have to be “omnivorous.”

From The Daily Beast

Vegan women are only one-fifth as likely to have twins as are vegetarian and omnivorous women.

From The Daily Beast

He has an omnivorous and hyper intellect, and a quick wit—and is easily bored.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast is the omnivorous friend who hears about the best stuff and forwards it to you with a twist.

From The Daily Beast

It is quite within the limits of probability, for instance, that the man-ape at an early date became omnivorous in its diet.

From Project Gutenberg

The young gorilla which was kept in captivity at Berlin became quite omnivorous in its diet.

From Project Gutenberg

She was an omnivorous reader, especially of philosophic works, and very fond of discussing what she read.

From Project Gutenberg

They have a prejudice against milk; but in the matter of other sorts of food are omnivorous.

From Project Gutenberg

Like many Edinburgh shopkeepers, Mr. Traill was a man of superior education and an omnivorous reader.

From Project Gutenberg