What does eschewer mean?
An eschewer is a person who deliberately avoids, shuns, or abstains from something, whether out of principle, taste, or long-standing habit. The word is the agent noun of the verb 'eschew', which itself derives from Old French 'eschiver', ultimately of Germanic origin. Because 'eschew' carries connotations of conscious, often virtuous avoidance — one eschews violence, extravagance, or gossip — an eschewer is usually portrayed as exercising deliberate restraint rather than simply lacking interest. The term appears chiefly in formal, literary, or journalistic prose: a profile might describe a billionaire as 'an eschewer of ostentation', or a memoir might note that its author was 'a lifelong eschewer of meat'. Although relatively uncommon compared with 'eschew' itself, it fills a useful niche, naming the person behind the abstinence. Its rarity gives it a slightly elevated flavour, and it pairs naturally with 'of' to specify what is being avoided.
nounA person who deliberately avoids, shuns, or abstains from something, especially as a matter of habit or principle. It is the agent noun formed from the verb 'eschew'.
- A person who habitually or principledly avoids or abstains from something.
"A lifelong eschewer of social media, she read printed newspapers instead."
"As an eschewer of caffeine, he ordered herbal tea while his colleagues downed espresso."
"The novelist was famously an eschewer of publicity, giving no interviews in three decades."
Standard English plural; used when referring to multiple people who avoid something.
"Eschewers of processed food often cook everything from scratch."
Eschewer rhymes with 'chewer', but it means almost exactly the opposite — someone determined never to take a bite of whatever's on offer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eschewer
'Eschewer' is formed by adding the agent suffix '-er' to the verb 'eschew', which entered English from Old French 'eschiver' (also 'eschuir'), meaning to avoid or shun. The French verb is generally traced to a Germanic source related to words meaning to shun or fear. The verb was established in Middle English by the late medieval period, and the derivative 'eschewer' arose later through ordinary English word-formation, alongside the more common noun 'eschewal'. Cognate notions of avoidance survive in related Romance forms such as Italian 'schivare'.
Related word forms
How eschewer is actually used
'Eschewer' is a relatively rare agent noun; the verb 'eschew' and its gerund/noun form 'eschewal' are considerably more common. It tends to appear in formal or literary writing and often carries a slightly admiring tone, suggesting disciplined self-restraint rather than mere dislike. The thing avoided is typically introduced with 'of' (e.g., 'an eschewer of excess').
Easily confused with eschewer
'Escrow' is a noun meaning money or property held by a third party during a transaction, while 'eschewer' refers to a person who deliberately avoids something.
'Eschewed' is a past tense verb form meaning 'avoided', whereas 'eschewer' is the noun for the person doing the avoiding.