Flexitarian

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /flɛk.sɪˈtɛə.ɹi.ən/

Definitions

1. An individual who mainly consumes a plant-based diet but sometimes includes meat or fish in their meals is often termed a flexible eater
2. A person who primarily adheres to a diet rich in plant-based foods while occasionally incorporating meat or fish into their meals is known for their adaptable eating habits
3. Someone who predominantly chooses vegetarian options but infrequently consumes meat or seafood can be described as having a flexible dietary approach

Etymology: Flexitarian is a blend of "flexible" and "vegetarian", so its story is largely one of deliberate compression. The first half supplies the idea of adaptability, while the second names the diet it bends. Put together, the word describes someone whose eating is mostly vegetarian but who is not strict about it, occasionally eating meat or fish. The blend works the way many modern coinages do: two familiar words are fused, each losing part of its spelling so that the result reads as a single, easily grasped label. Here the pieces overlap neatly in sound, with "flex" leading into "vegetarian" and the stress falling on the middle syllables, which helps the new word feel natural rather than clipped.

Synonyms: semi-vegetarian, part-time vegetarian, occasional vegetarian

Antonyms: meat-eater, carnivore