ENGLISH
REFERENCE

vegetarian

n. · adj.
US //ˌvɛdʒəˈtɛˌɹiən// UK //vˌɛdʒɪtˈeəɹiən// veg·e·tar·i·an
  1. 1 a person (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    someone who does not eat meat or fish.

    a person who does not eat meat, poultry, or fish, often for ethical, environmental, or health reasons.

    Example

    My sister has been a vegetarian since she was ten because she loves animals.

    Example

    The restaurant offers a diverse menu that caters to both vegetarians and vegans, ensuring that no guest feels limited by their dietary choices.
    • herbivore
    • carnivore
    • meat eater
    Pitfall
    She is a vegetarian person.
    She is a vegetarian.

    In English, 'vegetarian' is a noun on its own. You do not need to add the word 'person' after it.

  2. 2 meat-free food (adj.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

    food that does not contain any meat.

    relating to a diet or dish that excludes meat and fish.

    Example

    We decided to cook a vegetarian lasagna for the dinner party.

    Example

    The school cafeteria recently introduced a mandatory vegetarian day to reduce its carbon footprint and promote healthier eating habits among students.
    • meatless
    • plant based
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  1. 3 an animal (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    an animal that only eats plants.

    an animal that subsists entirely on plant matter; a herbivore.

    Example

    Elephants are natural vegetarians that spend most of their day eating grass and leaves.

    Example

    Biologists classified the newly discovered species as a strict vegetarian after observing its foraging patterns in the dense rainforest canopy.
    • herbivore
    • carnivore
    • omnivore
Origin

From vegetable + -arian; popularized following 1847 foundation of British Vegetarian Society.

Word family

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