vegetarian

Definitions

Coined in the 1840s from vegetable + -arian (a person who...). It does not mean 'someone who eats only vegetables' — vegetarians eat fruit, grains, dairy, and eggs too; the word simply grew from the plant-food root.

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She's been a strict vegetarian since she was a teenager.

• 2.

  The restaurant offers several tasty vegetarian dishes.

Easily Confused

vegetarian vs vegan — a vegetarian avoids meat and fish but usually eats dairy and eggs. a vegan avoids all animal products (no milk, eggs, honey, leather). Vegan is the stricter, broader avoidance.