What Does Vegetarian Mean? Definition & Diet

Meaning 1：meat-free person (vegetarian)

vegetarian 🔊

/ˌvedʒəˈtɛriən/

A person who does not eat meat, chicken, or fish, and mainly eats food from plants like vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Vegetarian person smiling at a colorful salad and grilled vegetables on a cafe table

meat-free person 🔊

➕

/miːt friː ˈpɜːrsən/

A person who does not eat meat, chicken, or fish, and primarily consumes plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, and grains.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'vegetable' + '-arian', meaning 'a person who advocates or follows a particular practice'.

💡 Mnemonic

A vegetarian loves veggies, like a librarian loves books.

📖 Example

Since my friend became a vegetarian, she always recommends amazing plant-based restaurants. 🔊 Since my friend became a vegetarian, she always recommends amazing plant-based restaurants.

🔗 Collocations

become a vegetarian – start following a meat-free diet

strict vegetarian – a person who avoids all animal products

vegetarian diet – a meal plan based on plants

🔄 Synonyms

herbivore (n.) – An animal that eats only plants; sometimes used humorously for a vegetarian.

plant-eater (n.) – A person who consumes mostly plant-based foods.

non-meat eater (n.) – A person who excludes meat from their diet.

🚫 Antonyms

carnivore (n.) – An animal or person that eats meat.

omnivore (n.) – A person who eats both plant and animal foods.

meat-eater (n.) – A person who regularly eats meat.

🌱 Derivatives

vegetarianism (n.) – The practice of following a vegetarian diet.

vegetarian (adj.) – Relating to a diet or dish that contains no meat.

vegetarianize (v.) – To make something suitable for vegetarians.

📖 Cultural Story

Coined in 1847 by the British Vegetarian Society from Latin 'vegetus' (lively) and '-arian', referring to a person who avoids meat.