locavore
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of locavore
loca(l) + -vore, on the model of carnivore, herbivore; coined in 2005 by Jessica Prentice (born 1968), American chef, author, and cofounder of Three Stone Hearth, a community-supported kitchen in Berkeley, California
Explanation
A locavore is someone who tries to limit their diet to food that was grown nearby. Locavores who live in Vermont, the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S., might use the sweet syrup instead of sugar as a sweetener. A restaurant with a menu that explains exactly where each locally grown item of food came from is a dream for locavores. They do their best to eat fruit, vegetables, dairy, and meat that come from local farms. A locavore who lives near the coast might also include fish, shellfish, seaweed, and sea salt in their diet. The California chef Jessica Prentice is given credit for coining locavore in 2005 from local and the Latin vorare, "devour."
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.
This dish, colored with saffron and perfumed with warm spices, was inspired by a meal I recently enjoyed in Rafidi’s luxuriously updated restaurant, and shares his locavore approach.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025
The town is an ideal jumping-off point for a long weekend to wander the trails, beaches, swimming holes and locavore delights along the strait to Port Renfrew.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 24, 2022
If you want to get a real taste of the place you’re visiting, don’t make a reservation at the hippest-looking locavore restaurant you find on Instagram.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 21, 2022
A locavore on vacation in Orlando might venture out to taste one of Florida’s many locally grown tropical fruits such as papaya.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2018
And for fans of Kings Co Imperial and its locavore menu, there will be an alternative to the restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as a branch opens on the Manhattan side of the bridge.
From New York Times ● Aug. 28, 2017
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