polyphagy

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noun

The ability of an animal to eat a variety of food (e.g. several different families of plants)

Similar
polyphagia
OriginAncient Greek ἔφᾰγον (éphăgon) ← Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂g- ← English poly- →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

nounpolyphagy (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyThe ability of an animal to eat a variety of food (e.g. several different families of plants)

    Synonyms: polyphagia

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe ability of an animal to eat a variety of food (e.g. several different families of plants)

Similar
polyphagia
Also see
polyphagiapolyphagism

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  3. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  4. Englishpoly-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂g-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰh₂g-
  7. Ancient Greekἔφᾰγον (éphăgon)
  8. Englishpolyphagy

From poly- (“many”) + -phagy (“to feed on”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

polyphagy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyphagy

MLA

“polyphagy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyphagy. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polyphagy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyphagy.

Source: polyphagy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.