vegetarian

American  

[vej-i-tair-ee-uhn] / ˌvɛdʒ ɪˈtɛər i ən /

noun

1. a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc.

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adjective

1. of or relating to vegetarianism or vegetarians.

2. devoted to or advocating this practice.

3. consisting solely of vegetables.

   vegetarian vegetable soup.

vegetarian British  

/ ˌvɛdʒɪˈtɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person who advocates or practises vegetarianism

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adjective

1. relating to, advocating, or practising vegetarianism

2. cookery strictly, consisting of vegetables and fruit only, but usually including milk, cheese, eggs, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonvegetarian adjective

Etymology

Origin of vegetarian

First recorded in 1835–45; veget(able) + -arian

Example Sentences

But he can’t stand to wear them now, especially since he’s also a vegetarian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Being vegetarian, it’s a little challenging, but it’s a great place for us.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2026

Vida offers a four-course prix fixe menu, with the option to select one dish from each course, as well as a seven-course tasting menu; both can be enjoyed in vegetarian form.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

She became a vegetarian, attacked the Chinese government for "torturing" bears, and spent hundreds of thousands on a programme to sterilise Romanian stray dogs.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

Sadhu cleared his throat and said: "I'm a vegetarian."

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan