An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and other animals. The word comes from Latin roots meaning “all” and “to eat,” which captures the idea perfectly: omnivores aren't picky about whether their food once had leaves or came from an animal.

Many humans are omnivores. We eat vegetables, fruits, and grains, but we also eat meat, fish, and eggs. Bears are famous omnivores too: they catch salmon and hunt deer, but they also munch on berries, dig up roots, and raid beehives for honey. Pigs, raccoons, crows, and many other animals are omnivores.

Being an omnivore offers flexibility. When one food source becomes scarce, omnivores can switch to something else. A bear doesn't starve if the salmon aren't running because it can eat plants instead. This adaptability has helped omnivores, including humans, survive and thrive in many different environments.

Compare omnivores to carnivores (animals that eat mostly meat, like lions and hawks) and herbivores (animals that eat only plants, like deer and rabbits). While carnivores need sharp teeth and claws for hunting, and herbivores need special stomachs for digesting tough plants, omnivores have bodies designed to handle both.