Definition

1. Noun:
   • An animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances: An organism whose diet naturally includes a wide variety of food sources, such as plants, meat, fungi, and algae.
   • A person who eats all kinds of foods: A human who consumes a diet that includes both plant-based and animal-based products without restriction.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • Bears are classic omnivores, eating berries, fish, and small mammals.
  • The raccoon's success as an urban dweller is due to its nature as a highly adaptable omnivore.
• Noun (Human):
  • As an omnivore, she enjoys a balanced diet of vegetables, grains, and lean meats.
  • He considers himself a culinary omnivore, willing to try any food from any culture.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Context: In biology, "omnivore" describes a trophic level. An omnivore occupies a flexible position in the food web, acting as both a primary and secondary consumer.
  • The shift in the ecosystem was studied by tracking the population of key omnivores.
• Figurative Use: The term can be applied metaphorically to describe someone with broad, indiscriminate tastes in non-food contexts, such as media or information.
  • He is a cultural omnivore, devouring everything from classical literature to comic books.

Variants and Related Words

• Omnivorous (adj): Feeding on a variety of food of both plant and animal origin; figuratively, taking in everything indiscriminately.
  • Pigs are omnivorous animals.
  • She has an omnivorous appetite for knowledge.
• Herbivore (n): An animal that feeds only on plants.
• Carnivore (n): An animal that feeds only on other animals.

Synonyms

• Generalist feeder: An organism that eats a wide variety of available foods.
• Opportunistic feeder: An animal that consumes whatever food source is readily accessible.

Related Phrases

• Omnivore's dilemma: A phrase popularized by Michael Pollan, referring to the human challenge of deciding what to eat given the vast array of available choices.
  • The modern supermarket is the perfect setting for the omnivore's dilemma.

Noun

1. an animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances
2. a person who eats all kinds of foods