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The Classic Omnivore
Human beings seem to be classic omnivores. Originally living as "hunter-gatherers", we hunted and fished when possible but also gathered nuts, berries, fruits, seeds, and roots for much of our diet. We're physically well suited for both tasks; our hands are perfect for picking things, and our build is ideal for running down even the fastest game animals because of our great stamina. Some 10,000 years ago humans began practicing agriculture involving both animals and plants. The other omnivorous mammals include chimpanzees, pigs, opossums, porcupines, bears, raccoons, chipmunks, mice and rats, and skunks. But even many mammals classed as carnivorous turn out to be capable of shifting to plant foods when necessary.
Examples of omnivore in a Sentence
Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
Their spectrum still ranges from pure carnivores to pure herbivores, with most bears today being omnivores.
—New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025
Ornithomimosaurs were likely not strictly carnivores, but rather omnivores or herbivores, Nau said.
—Lauren Liebhaber
september 22, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Humans, on the other hand, sit in another category — omnivores — capable of digesting animal as well as plant matter.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Omnivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omnivore. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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omnivore
noun
