What do you call someone who eats all types of food?

October 18, 2025 •

3 min read

The average human diet includes foods from both plant and animal sources. For those with no dietary restrictions, the most common term for this is an 'omnivore'. Beyond this familiar term, other, lesser-known scientific and technical names also exist for a person or animal who eats all types of food.

Quick Summary

This article defines the term 'omnivore,' explains its Latin origin, and introduces more specialized terms like 'pantophagist' and 'polyphage.' It examines the dietary flexibility of humans and other omnivorous species, contrasting their digestive systems and characteristics with those of herbivores and carnivores.

Key Points

Omnivore: The most common term for a person or animal who eats all types of food, derived from Latin for 'all-devouring'.
Pantophagist and Polyphage: More technical or archaic terms that can also describe omnivorous eating habits, originating from Greek words for 'all-eater'.
Dietary Flexibility: Omnivores have a significant survival advantage due to their ability to consume a wide range of food sources, from plants and fruits to meat and insects.
Physiological Adaptations: The dental and digestive systems of omnivores are adapted to process both fibrous plant matter and protein-rich animal tissue.
Human Omnivory: Humans are biologically omnivores, with our dental structure and digestive tract optimized for a mixed diet, regardless of individual dietary choices.

Omnivore: The Most Common Term

Derived from the Latin words 'omnis' (all) and 'vorare' (to devour), an omnivore is the most widely recognized term for an organism that consumes both plant and animal matter. Humans are physiologically adapted to be omnivores, featuring a combination of teeth for grinding plants (molars) and tearing meat (incisors and canines). This dietary flexibility has enabled humans to thrive in a vast array of environments throughout history.

Adaptations for an Omnivorous Diet

Omnivores possess unique physiological characteristics that allow them to process a wide variety of food sources. Their digestive system is a blend of traits found in herbivores and carnivores, enabling them to handle both fibrous plant matter and dense protein from meat. This adaptability is a key to their survival, allowing them to switch between food sources depending on seasonal availability or environmental conditions.

Other Terms for Omnivorous Eating

While omnivore is the standard, more specific or archaic terms are also used to describe this dietary behavior. These terms often appear in scientific or specialized contexts.

Pantophagist: An obsolete but precise term, a pantophagist is one who eats all kinds of food. The word literally means 'all-eater,' from the Greek 'panto-' (all) and '-phagos' (eater)..
Polyphage: In a general biological sense, a polyphage is an organism that can eat a variety of food. The term is also used in virology, but in the context of diet, it is a direct synonym for an omnivore.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

An interesting aspect of being an omnivore is the challenge of determining what is safe and nutritious to eat. This concept, sometimes called the 'omnivore's dilemma,' requires omnivorous species to learn through experience which foods are beneficial and which are toxic. A rat or human, for example, learns to recognize nutritious food by its flavor and appearance.

The Spectrum of Diets: Omnivores vs. Specialists

To truly understand what it means to be an omnivore, it's helpful to compare this dietary strategy to more specialized ones, like those of herbivores and carnivores. This comparison highlights the unique advantages and disadvantages of each.


Characteristic	Omnivore	Herbivore	Carnivore
Dietary Sources	Both plants and animals	Plants only	Animals only
Dental Adaptations	A mix of sharp canines/incisors and flat molars	Primarily large, flat molars for grinding	Sharp canines and shearing molars for tearing
Digestive System	Unspecialized; shorter intestinal tract than herbivores	Specialized for plant digestion; long intestinal tract	Highly acidic stomach; shorter intestinal tract
Dietary Flexibility	High; adapts to available food	Low; relies solely on plant life	Low; depends on successful hunting
Survival Advantage	Can find food in a wide range of environments	Efficient digestion of fibrous plant matter	Efficient protein assimilation from meat

Human Omnivory

Humans are a classic example of omnivores, a trait that allowed our ancestors to thrive in varied ecosystems. This dietary flexibility is ingrained in our physiology, from our dental structure to our digestive enzymes. Even for those who choose a vegetarian or vegan diet, the underlying biological capacity for omnivory remains. Humans can also incorporate other food sources like fungi, algae, and microorganisms, further diversifying their nutritional intake. This adaptability is crucial for navigating modern food choices and understanding dietary health.

Examples from the Animal Kingdom

Beyond humans, many animals demonstrate omnivorous behavior. This adaptability is a key evolutionary advantage. Examples include:

Bears: While different bear species have varying dietary habits, most are omnivores, eating everything from berries and roots to fish and small mammals.
Pigs: Wild boars and domestic pigs are well-known omnivores, capable of consuming plants, roots, insects, and small animals.
Raccoons: These opportunistic feeders are notorious for eating a huge variety of foods, from nuts and fruits to insects and garbage.
Chickens: Common domestic fowl will forage for seeds, fruits, and insects, making them excellent omnivores.
Crows: These intelligent birds have a highly varied diet, scavenging for everything from nuts and seeds to carrion and eggs.

Conclusion

While "omnivore" is the single most accurate and widely used term for someone who eats all types of food, it's important to recognize the nuances of this dietary strategy. The term describes not only a person's or animal's eating habits but also the remarkable biological adaptations that allow them to digest both plants and animals. This evolutionary flexibility provides a significant survival advantage, enabling omnivores to thrive in diverse and changing environments. For humans, this innate omnivorous capacity underscores the importance of a balanced and varied diet, even for those who choose more restrictive eating patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary difference lies in their diet; carnivores eat only meat, while omnivores eat both plants and animals. Carnivores have specialized digestive systems for meat, whereas omnivores possess more generalist systems adapted for a mixed diet.

Yes. A person who is vegan is still biologically an omnivore because their body is physiologically capable of digesting both plant and animal matter, even if they choose to restrict their diet.

An 'opportunistic eater' is another way to describe an omnivore. It refers to their ability to eat almost anything that is available in their environment, allowing them to adapt to changing food sources.

No. While most omnivores, including humans, have a combination of sharp and flat teeth, the specific structure and emphasis can vary. This reflects the balance of plant and animal matter in their typical diet.

Yes. An omnivore's unspecialized digestive system is a trade-off. They are less efficient at digesting certain plant matter than herbivores and less adept at hunting large prey than carnivores. This can be a disadvantage when specific food types are critical.

In the context of diet, the terms are largely synonymous, both referring to an 'all-eater'. However, 'omnivore' is the standard, modern biological and common term, while 'pantophagist' is an older, more obsolete term.

An omnivorous diet can be very healthy and balanced, providing essential nutrients from both plant and animal sources. However, its healthiness depends on the quality and balance of the foods consumed. A balanced approach with moderation is key.