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plant-based

American  
[plant-beyst] / ˈplæntˌbeɪst /

adjective

  1. relating to or being a food consisting entirely or mainly of whole or minimally processed plant parts, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds: the health benefits of a plant-based diet and lifestyle.

    plant-based burgers that taste like meat;

    the health benefits of a plant-based diet and lifestyle.

  2. relating to or being a medicine, fuel, etc., made from plants or plant matter.


Etymology

Origin of plant-based

Coined in 1980 by Thomas Colin Campbell (born 1934), U.S. biochemist

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.

See Examples For:

Mycotoxins can be especially common in plant-based products because many of their ingredients, including grains, legumes and seeds, may be exposed to mould while they are being grown or stored.

From Science Daily Aug. 28, 2026

The full research paper, "Mycotoxin contamination in plant-based beverages and meat alternatives: A survey of the UK market," is published in Food Control.

From Science Daily Aug. 28, 2026

Walter drew on loans from insurers to invest in startups, including plant-based food-maker Beyond Meat and online used-car dealer Carvana, according to insurance filings and people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 18, 2026

It follows a similar uproar in 2022 when Cracker Barrel faced online backlash from some customers after adding plant-based sausages to its breakfast menu.

From BBC Jul. 27, 2026

So I went ahead and swapped my normal creams containing high amounts of glycerin, aloe and other plant-based ingredients for tallow-based alternatives for a two-week period.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 27, 2026

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