vegetarianism

American  

[vej-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm] / ˌvɛdʒ ɪˈtɛər i əˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. the beliefs or practices of a vegetarian.

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vegetarianism British  

/ ˌvɛdʒɪˈtɛərɪəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. the principle or practice of excluding all meat and fish, and sometimes, in the case of vegans, all animal products (such as eggs, cheese, etc) from one's diet

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Etymology

Origin of vegetarianism

First recorded in 1850–55; vegetarian + -ism

Explanation

Do you enjoy veggie burgers, pasta primavera, and bean burritos but skip the beef, chicken, and fish? Then you're a proponent of vegetarianism, the practice of not eating meat. Vegetarianism is all about what someone chooses to include in their diet. A vegetarian doesn't eat meat or fish, and sometimes abstains from animal products like eggs as well. You might be interested in vegetarianism for health reasons or because you're concerned about animal welfare. Before the words vegetarian and vegetarianism were coined in the 19th century, people following this diet were referred to as anti-carnivorous.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vegetarianism

Jurors were told she had sought alternatives to her insulin medication because of her vegetarianism and fear of needles.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

He belongs to a Hindu sect that reveres nature and follows strict vegetarianism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

In 1863, a physician who advocated vegetarianism and hydrotherapy produced the first breakfast cereal to counter the meat-focused breakfasts of the day.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 21, 2026

The environmentalist movement of the 1960s and 70s was intertwined with various healthy-eating trends, from veganism and vegetarianism to macrobiotics.

From Slate ● Dec. 2, 2024

Articles in the paper covered feminism, suffrage, sex education, legalized prostitution, vegetarianism, women in the military, and spiritualism.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling