omnivore

Everyday

1. An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and other animals. tree →
2. Informally, a person who eats all kinds of food, including meat and vegetables. tree →

In the lessons

Used in science lessons about food chains and diets, beside "herbivore" (plants only) and "carnivore" (meat only). Bears, pigs, raccoons, chickens and most people are omnivores. In a food web an omnivore can be both a primary and a secondary consumer.

Examples

• A bear is an omnivore because it eats berries and fish. tree →
• Humans are omnivores. tree →
• Is a pig a herbivore, a carnivore or an omnivore? tree →
• Raccoons are omnivores and eat almost anything. tree →
• Omnivores have both sharp and flat teeth. tree →
• Sort the animals into herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. tree →
• My brother is a real omnivore and will eat any food you give him. tree →

Note

Countable: an omnivore, two omnivores. Word family: herbivore, carnivore, insectivore. The "-vore" ending means "eater". A vegetarian person is still an omnivore as a species.