herbivorous

adjective

her·​biv·​o·​rous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbi-və-rəs How to pronounce herbivorous (audio)
-ˈbiv-rəs
: feeding on plants
herbivory noun

Did you know?

Many herbivorous animals, such as rabbits, deer, sheep, and cows, are noted for their gentle and passive ways. But such behavior is not universal among herbivores. Rhinoceroses and elephants, for instance, are capable of inflicting serious damage if threatened, and among dinosaurs, the herbivorous Diplodocus had a thick tail that could be used as a lethal weapon against attacking carnivores. Herbivorous humans are usually called vegetarians.

Examples of herbivorous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The biggest difference is between herbivorous species, like carp and tilapia with a FIFO ratio up to 0.83 at the upper bound of the adjusted model, and carnivorous species like salmon and trout, with a FIFO ratio up to 5.57 — a near sevenfold gap. Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Dicynodonts were herbivorous animals characterized by turtle-like beaks and walrus-like tusks. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 19 Sep. 2024 This global wetting led to another profound disappearance of many species, particularly of herbivorous reptiles that had adapted to arid conditions. Leigh Phillips, The Atlantic, 9 July 2024 Share [Findings] The tail of an unidentified herbivorous dinosaur in Alberta was found to contain a type of histiocytic tumor that primarily affects young children. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for herbivorous 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin herbivorus, from Latin herba grass + -vorus -vorous

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of herbivorous was in 1661

Dictionary Entries Near herbivorous

Cite this Entry

“Herbivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbivorous. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

herbivorous

adjective
her·​biv·​o·​rous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbiv-ə-rəs How to pronounce herbivorous (audio)
: eating or living on plants

Medical Definition

herbivorous

adjective
her·​biv·​o·​rous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbiv-ə-rəs How to pronounce herbivorous (audio)
1
: feeding on plants
herbivorous mammals
2
: having a stout body and a long small intestine : endomorphic
herbivorously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on herbivorous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!