What does coprophagist mean?
A coprophagist is a person or animal that eats faeces, a behaviour formally known as coprophagy or coprophagia. In zoology the term is entirely neutral: many animals are natural coprophagists. Rabbits and other lagomorphs routinely re-ingest special soft droppings called caecotropes to absorb nutrients their digestive systems could not capture the first time, while dung beetles and some primates also consume excrement for nourishment or gut microbes. In human contexts, by contrast, coprophagy is regarded as abnormal and may be associated with psychiatric disorders, developmental conditions such as pica, or severe neglect, making the word strongly taboo when applied to people. The term derives from Greek roots meaning 'dung' and 'to eat', and it appears mainly in scientific, medical, and veterinary writing. Its precise technical character makes it valuable where a euphemism would obscure meaning.
nounA person or animal that eats faeces (excrement); a practitioner of coprophagy.
- A person or animal that eats excrement, whether as an abnormal behaviour in humans or as normal digestive behaviour in certain animals.
"Rabbits are habitual coprophagists, re-ingesting special soft droppings to extract extra nutrients from their food."
"In laboratory settings, researchers observed that the young rodents became habitual coprophagists within weeks of weaning."
"The term coprophagist appears in veterinary literature describing species, such as rabbits and hares, for which re-ingestion of droppings is entirely normal."
Standard plural, formed regularly with -s.
"Dung beetles are among the most efficient coprophagists in the insect world."
Rabbits are unashamed coprophagists — eating their own droppings twice is how they squeeze every last nutrient out of their diet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coprophagist
The word derives from Greek kopros ('dung') combined with phagein ('to eat'), the same root that gives English phagocyte, sarcophagus, and esophagus. It entered scientific English during the nineteenth century alongside related forms such as coprophagous and coprophagy, as biologists systematised terms for feeding behaviours. It remains closely tied to its sibling terms, with coprophagy describing the behaviour itself and coprophagist naming the creature that performs it.
Related word forms
How coprophagist is actually used
A technical term used chiefly in zoology, veterinary science, and clinical psychology. When applied to humans it carries strong connotations of disgust and abnormality, so it should be handled sensitively outside specialist contexts.
Easily confused with coprophagist
A coprophilic person is sexually aroused by faeces, whereas a coprophagist is one who eats them — related but distinct behaviours.