omnivorous

Imagine a bear happily munching on berries and catching salmon. That is this idea in action. The word "omnivorous" describes animals, and sometimes people, that eat both plants and animals instead of only one kind of food. Unlike herbivores (plant-eaters) or carnivores (meat-eaters), they can live on a mixed diet.

You will often hear it when people talk about animal diets: "Pigs are omnivorous." It can also be used in a wider way for someone with very broad tastes. For example, a person who will try almost any food might be said to have an omnivorous appetite. It comes from Latin roots meaning "all" and "to devour."

"Omnivorous" describes the ability or habit of eating a wide variety of foods, including both plants and animals. The term comes from the Latin words omnis, meaning "all," and vorare, meaning "to devour." In biology, it is used for many species, including humans, bears, pigs, raccoons, and crows, because they can live on different kinds of food.

While many animals are mainly herbivores (plant-eaters) or carnivores (meat-eaters), omnivores can digest and use food from both sources. This flexibility can be a survival advantage, helping them adapt to different environments and changing food supplies.

Beyond biology, "omnivorous" can also be used metaphorically to describe someone with very broad interests or tastes. A reader might be described as having an "omnivorous appetite for books," meaning they enjoy many kinds of writing and many genres. It can also describe a person who is open to many different experiences, especially in food, art, or learning.

So whether you are talking about the diet of a grizzly bear, the wide-ranging tastes of a friend, or the adaptable eating habits of humans, "omnivorous" suggests an ability and readiness to take in many kinds of food, and sometimes many kinds of experience.