# carnivore

/ˈkɑɹnɪˌvɔɹ/ (US) · /kˈɑːnɪvˌɔː/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carnivore
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

an animal or person that eats meat. You use this to describe creatures that hunt or eat other animals to survive.

For teachers: an organism that primarily or exclusively derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue.

## Examples

- A lion is a famous carnivore.
- While some bears eat both plants and meat, the polar bear is almost strictly a carnivore due to its arctic environment.
- In a balanced ecosystem, the population of a top carnivore is naturally limited by the availability of prey species further down the food chain.

## Usage notes

- Often used in contrast with 'herbivore' (plant-eater) and 'omnivore' (eats both).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.