coprophagous

American

[kuh-prof-uh-guhs] / kəˈprɒf ə gəs /

adjective

feeding on dung, as certain beetles.

coprophagous British

/ kɒˈprɒfəɡəs /

adjective

(esp of certain beetles) feeding on dung

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

coprophagia noun
coprophagist noun
coprophagy noun

Etymology

Origin of coprophagous

First recorded in 1820–30; copro- + -phagous

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.

The moths’ caterpillars are coprophagous or, to put it more bluntly, consumers of excrement.

From New York Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023