What does carnivore mean?
A carnivore is any animal that derives most of its nutrition from eating the flesh of other animals. The term spans a vast range of creatures, from apex predators like lions, eagles, and great white sharks to smaller hunters such as frogs, spiders, and even some plants like the Venus flytrap. Biologists further distinguish obligate carnivores, which must eat meat to survive, from facultative ones that can also consume plant matter. In formal taxonomy, 'carnivore' can also refer to a member of the mammalian order Carnivora, which includes cats, dogs, bears, and seals — though not every member of this order is exclusively meat-eating. Informally, the word describes people who eat meat, often used lightheartedly in contrast to vegetarians or vegans. Derived from the Latin caro (flesh) and vorare (to devour), it is a precise, widely understood term essential to discussions of ecology, food chains, and diet.
nounAn animal that feeds primarily on the flesh of other animals. More broadly, a person who eats meat, or an organism that obtains energy and nutrients from animal tissue.
- An animal whose diet consists chiefly of the flesh of other animals.
- In taxonomy, a member of the order Carnivora (cats, dogs, bears, seals, etc.).
- Informally, a person who eats meat.
"Lions, wolves, and sharks are among the most efficient carnivores in the animal kingdom."
"As an obligate carnivore, the domestic cat cannot survive on a vegetarian diet."
"'I'm a strict carnivore,' he joked, declining the salad."
Standard plural; simply add -s.
"The reserve is home to several large carnivores."
The word carnivore literally means 'meat-devourer' in Latin — and it's the same root that gives us carnival, originally the 'farewell to flesh' feast before Lent.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of carnivore
The word carnivore comes from the Latin carnivorus, formed from caro (genitive carnis), meaning 'flesh', combined with vorare, meaning 'to devour'. It entered English in the mid-19th century as a scientific classification term, though its roots are shared with older English words such as carnal and incarnate, which likewise stem from caro. Cognates appear across Romance languages, including French carnivore and Spanish carnívoro, reflecting their common Latin inheritance.
How carnivore is actually used
Scientific usage is neutral and descriptive; informal use to describe people who eat meat can be playful or slightly humorous. In biology, 'carnivore' specifically refers to diet, while 'Carnivora' (capitalized) refers to the taxonomic order — not all members of Carnivora are strictly carnivorous (e.g., pandas).
Easily confused with carnivore
A carnival is a festive public event with entertainment and rides, while a carnivore is a flesh-eating animal; both derive from Latin caro (flesh) but share nothing else.
A herbivore eats plants rather than flesh — they are opposites in dietary classification.