What does herbivore mean?
Herbivore is a noun for an animal that eats mainly plants, including leaves, grass, fruit, and other vegetation. In ordinary ecological usage, the word covers mammals such as deer, cattle, and elephants, as well as many non-mammalian animals, although it can also be used for an individual species. It is a useful category because it identifies a feeding strategy rather than a taxonomic group: herbivores may be mammals, insects, fish, or reptiles. In a sentence, “The zebra is a herbivore” identifies what it eats, while “herbivore population” describes a group within an ecosystem. Figuratively, a person who eats mostly plants may be called a herbivore, but this is playful rather than the standard biological label. “Herbivorous” is the corresponding adjective, while “herbivory” names the practice of feeding on plants.
nounAn animal that feeds principally on plants or other vegetation.
- An animal that feeds principally on plants or other vegetation.
- Figuratively, a person whose diet consists mainly of plants, usually in humorous or self-deprecating usage.
"The giraffe is a tall herbivore that browses on leaves from trees and shrubs."
"Cattle are herbivores that graze on grass across open pasture."
"After months of eating mostly plants, she jokingly called herself a herbivore."
The standard plural refers to individual animals or to members of the biological category.
"Large herbivores shape the vegetation of many grassland ecosystems."
A giraffe is a herbivore: the animal kingdom’s tallest living salad bar.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does herbivore come from?
The word entered English in the early 17th century from the Latin herbivorus, a compound of herba, “grass, herb, or plant,” and vorare, “to eat.” The immediate Latin sense referred to an animal that feeds on vegetation. Related English forms include the adjective “herbivorous” and the noun “herbivory,” while words such as “herb,” “herbal,” and “herbarium” ultimately share the Latin element herba.
Related word forms
How herbivore is actually used
The term is neutral and common in biology, ecology, and general writing. Its figurative use for people is informal and often playful or mildly critical. In non-rhotic British pronunciation, the usual form is approximately /ˈhɜːbɪvɔː/; in American pronunciation, the r in the first syllable is pronounced.
Easily confused with herbivore
“Herbivorous” is the adjective describing an animal that feeds on plants, whereas “herbivore” is the noun naming that animal.