What does zoophagy mean?
Zoophagy is a formal noun for eating animal matter. In its broadest sense, it includes feeding on animals, animal tissues, or products such as eggs, milk, or blood; in a narrower sense, it means eating animal flesh. The word is especially useful in zoology, ecology, entomology, and anthropology because it names a feeding strategy without specifying whether the animal is a predator, parasite, or blood-feeding insect. Human zoophagy is often discussed more specifically as anthropophagy or cannibalism, while the broader term can also describe mosquitoes taking a blood meal. Zoophagy is clinical-sounding rather than everyday. Its specialized vocabulary also distinguishes animal-feeding from phytophagy, feeding on plant matter. The word is worth knowing because it reveals how biology and anthropology share a precise taxonomic vocabulary.
nounThe practice or habit of eating animal matter. The term may refer broadly to feeding on animals or animal-derived food, or more specifically to eating animal flesh.
- Feeding on animals, animal tissues, or other animal-derived food.
- The eating of animal flesh, especially by humans.
"The article examines how religious practice and survival shaped patterns of human zoophagy."
"The article examines how religious practice and survival shaped patterns of human zoophagy."
"The term zoophagy can describe a mosquito's blood meal, not simply a predator's pursuit of prey."
The plural is rare and most likely to occur in comparative or general discussions of feeding practices.
"The survey compared the zoophagies of several animal species."
Zoophagy can describe a mosquito's blood meal as well as a human practice often called cannibalism—related ideas with very different associations.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does zoophagy come from?
Zoophagy is an English formation combining Greek zōion, meaning “animal,” with the combining form -phagy, derived from Greek phagein, meaning “to eat.” Its structure follows the same classical pattern seen in related English formations such as anthropophagy, ichthyophagy, and phytophagy. The word developed as a formal scientific term and remains most common in specialist writing.
Related word forms
How zoophagy is actually used
Zoophagy is formal and specialized, especially in zoology, ecology, entomology, and anthropology. When human cannibalism is meant, anthropophagy is often more specific. The adjective zoophagous is also well established.
Easily confused with zoophagy
Zoophagy means feeding on animal matter, whereas phytophagy means feeding on plants or plant material.
Zoophagy is the eating of animal matter, while zoophobia is an intense or persistent fear of animals.