noun
vegetarian
veh-jih-TEH-uh-ree-uhn
noun
1
A person who doesn't eat meat or fish.
"She's been a vegetarian since she was a teenager."
"The menu has plenty of options for vegetarians."
adj
1
Containing no meat, or suitable for people who don't eat meat.
"We ordered the vegetarian lasagna."
How to Use Vegetarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who avoids meat and fish, or food made without them.
Common mistake
Vegetarians may still eat eggs, dairy, and honey, unlike vegans, who avoid all animal products.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
vegetarian diet
strict vegetarian
vegetarian dish
Word Forms
more vegetarian comparative, vegetarians plural, most vegetarian superlative
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Etymology
Formed from "vegetable" plus the suffix -arian; the word spread after the British Vegetarian Society was founded in 1847.