eater of fruits and grains and nuts; someone who eats no meat or fish or (often) any animal products
"After years as a carnivore, my grandmother finally became a vegetarian by adopting a diet rich in fresh fruits, whole grains, and crunchy nuts."
A person who does not eat animal flesh, or, in some cases, use any animal products.
"The old recipe book listed "vegetarian" as an obsolete spelling, though it clearly meant someone who eats no meat."
Obsolete spelling of vegetarian
In plain English: A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, fish, or poultry but may still consume other foods like eggs and dairy products.
"The vegetarian sat down next to me at lunch and told me about her favorite salad recipes."
Usage: Use this noun specifically for a person following a meat-free diet rather than as an adjective describing food. Be aware that while most avoid flesh entirely, some individuals also exclude dairy and eggs depending on their specific dietary preferences.
Of or relating to the type of diet eaten by vegetarians (in all senses).
"After switching to a vegetarian lifestyle, he found that his cooking focused entirely on vegetables and grains without any meat or animal products."
In plain English: Vegetarian describes someone who eats plants but does not eat meat, fish, or other animal flesh.
"She is always eating vegetarian food at lunch."
The word vegetarian comes from combining the word vegetable with the suffix -arian. It became widely used after the British Vegetarian Society was founded in 1847.