What does meatless mean?
Meatless is an adjective meaning without meat. It is especially useful when describing food, meals, recipes, and dietary choices, as in a meatless Monday or a meatless meal, and can indicate that a dish contains no animal flesh. The word can also describe language, ideas, or plans that lack substance or meaningful content. In that figurative use, “meatless” often carries a mildly critical or dismissive tone, suggesting that something is empty of practical or persuasive force. While “vegetarian” and “vegan” can describe a person’s diet or practice, “meatless” focuses directly on the absence of meat in a particular food, event, or period. It is also sometimes used in discussions of animal welfare and environmental impact.
Containing no meat; lacking meat as an ingredient.
"The café serves meatless versions of several popular sandwiches."
Common in discussions of food, vegetarian and vegan diets, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Lacking substance, significance, or useful content.
"The committee dismissed the proposal as a meatless set of promises."
A figurative and usually somewhat critical use.
Meatless can describe more than a plate without meat: it can also call something empty of substance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meatless come from?
Meatless was formed in the 19th century by combining the Germanic noun “meat” with the suffix “-less,” meaning “without.” The word belongs to a productive English pattern that forms numerous adjectives describing absence, such as “shellless,” “wingless,” and “weightless.” Its meaning has developed from the literal absence of meat to the figurative sense of lacking substantial content.
Related word forms
How meatless is actually used
Most common in food, dietary, and animal-welfare contexts. The figurative sense is less frequent and usually critical or dismissive.
Easily confused with meatless
Meatless is the standard adjectival form; meatlessness is the noun naming the quality or state of being meatless.