carnivore

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "carnivore" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to an organism that primarily eats meat. An example: "The lion is a carnivore, hunting for its prey in the savannah." Alternative expressions include "meat-eater" and "flesh-eater."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But like that more famous non-carnivorous carnivore, the giant panda, it eats plants.

The Economist

Andrewsarchus – a big, prehistoric mammalian carnivore that resembled the villainous Gmork from The Neverending Story – is not a household name despite its apparent ferocity, and the shovel-tusked elephants and bear dogs of the age of mammals have not inspired a "Miocene Park" film franchise.

The Guardian - Opinion

[ORIGIN 2013: diminutive form of OLINGO, a South American mammal resembling the kinkajou.] The discovery of the olinguito was announced by the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in August: it represented the first identification of a new species of mammalian carnivore in the western hemisphere in 35 years.

The Guardian - Books

However, several species of small carnivore, such as the arctic fox, the Chinese wolf and the corsac fox, along with the opossum (pictured above), do have the receptor that H5N1 uses, making these animals potential targets for the virus.

The Economist

Though it is obvious which species were predators and which prey, the subtle specialisations of feeding habit that allow many types of carnivore to co-exist are rarely preserved in the fossil record.Rarely, but not never.

The Economist

Tracing the history of this method of preservation means tracing the history of man as a carnivore once he had graduated from living hand-to-mouth.

The Economist

And, in the long term, it matters little if one or two groups do disappear, because immigrants from better-faring patches will eventually re-establish the species' old haunts.One endangered species divided in just this way is the world's rarest carnivore, the Ethiopian wolf, which lives high in the meadows of the Bale Mountains.

The Economist

Modern migrating herbivores fall victim to many sorts of carnivore: big cats, wolves and hyenas, to name but three.

The Economist

One martyr doesn't make a jihad Fill your boots Luvvies at war The carnivore loses his teeth The amazing shrinking house Hiccup ahead It's not just India Peer today, gone tomorrow Reprints Related items Terrorism in Turkey: Blown apartNov 20th 2003 Terrorism: Who gains?Nov 20th 2003But Abdelrahman was also well trained.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The farmers can then charge a premium for their carnivore-friendly products.Staff at the Wind River Bear Institute, another organisation dedicated to bear conservation, teach individual bears to stay away from human settlements.

The Economist

Some of the remaining energy does not pass directly into the plant-herbivore-carnivore food chain but instead is diverted into the detritus food chain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about specific species, verify if they are truly carnivores or omnivores, as some animals classified within the order Carnivora have varied diets. Use "carnivore" to specify an animal that primarily consumes meat, distinguishing it from herbivores or omnivores.

Common error

Avoid assuming all members of the order Carnivora are strict meat-eaters. Many, like raccoons, are actually omnivores. Double-check the diet of specific animals before labeling them solely as "carnivores".

Linguistic Context

The word "carnivore" functions primarily as a noun, referring to an animal whose diet consists mainly of meat. It is used in various contexts, including scientific classifications, discussions about ecosystems, and even in dietary references, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

28%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

7%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "carnivore" is a versatile term primarily used as a noun to denote animals that consume meat as their primary food source. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its widespread use across diverse fields, from scientific studies to media reports. While primarily used to describe animals, it occasionally extends to describe humans who consume meat. The term is frequently found in "News & Media", "Encyclopedias", and "Science" contexts, highlighting its importance in both general and specialized discourse. It's important to use the term accurately, recognizing that not all members of the Carnivora order are obligate meat-eaters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meat-eating animal

Focuses on the dietary habit, replacing the taxonomic term with a descriptive one.

flesh-eating animal

Similar to "meat-eating animal", emphasizing the type of food consumed.

predatory animal

Highlights the hunting behavior associated with being a carnivore.

meat eater

A simpler, more colloquial term for an animal that eats meat.

predator

A broader term encompassing animals that hunt other animals for food, which often implies carnivory.

animal that consumes meat

Expands on the definition of a carnivore, focusing on its consumption habits.

animal of prey

Although it sounds opposite of carnivore, it describes the world where a carnivore acts. This phrase could serve as metaphor.

meatarian

A colloquial and less common term for a person who primarily consumes meat.

obligate carnivore

Describes a carnivore that relies solely on animal flesh for nutrients.

hypercarnivore

Denotes a carnivore whose diet consists of more than 70% meat.

FAQs

How is the term "carnivore" used in scientific contexts?

In scientific contexts, "carnivore" refers to any animal whose diet primarily consists of meat. This includes animals within the order Carnivora, though not all members of this order are exclusively meat-eaters. The term is used to classify animals based on their dietary habits, as seen in examples from "Encyclopedia Britannica".

What are some common examples of animals that are carnivores?

Common examples of carnivores include lions, tigers, wolves, and eagles. These animals have diets that primarily consist of meat obtained through hunting or scavenging, as illustrated in news and media examples from "The Economist" and "The Guardian".

What's the difference between a "carnivore" and a "predator"?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, a "carnivore" is defined by its diet (eating meat), while a "predator" is defined by its hunting behavior. A predator actively hunts other animals for food, and many predators are also carnivores, but not all carnivores are predators (some may scavenge). Essentially, being a predator is a way of being a carnivore.

What can I say instead of "carnivore" in everyday language?

In everyday language, you can use terms like "meat-eater" or "flesh-eater" instead of "carnivore". These terms are simpler and easier to understand, especially when speaking to a general audience. For example, instead of saying "The lion is a carnivore", you could say "The lion is a "meat-eating animal"".