The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a vegetarian as “one who believes in or practices vegetarianism” (or a “herbivore”, which is an animal who feeds on plants (only); this would correspond to our use of the term “vegan”). Vegetarianism is “the theory or practice of living on a vegetarian diet”. A vegetarian diet is one “consisting wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products“. (Legumes and seeds, which are also usually included, would fall under the category of vegetable foods.)

Although, according to this definition, people who eat meat could technically be defined as vegetarians if they “believe in” “the theory” of living on a vegetarian diet, but for some reason do not do so, most vegetarians would not define a meat-eater as a vegetarian.

A definition closer to the way the term is usually used would be from the Cambridge dictionary, which states simply that a vegetarian is “a person who does not eat meat for health or for religious or moral reasons: Some vegetarians avoid eggs and dairy products as well as meat.“

I was a vegetarian for 3 years and was chronically tired, low energy, depressed, and suffering a multitude of sleep problems. After eating meat again all of those problems went away. I got my blood type tested and discovered I am Type O. I was wondering if you think there’s a correlation, and maybe some Type O’s can’t be vegetarian? It’s still hard for me to believe, but I have gone off and back on to meat several times since this discovery and find that when I am not eating meat, all those low energy and negative side effects reoccur. Any thoughts? THANKS!

It is really clear that someone who is a vegetarian, doesn’t eat meat from land nor do they eat meat from the sea. A person eating pork or fish may want to label themselves as a vegetarian or even give up consuming animal flesh, it just wouldn’t be accurate term to use. They may follow a mostly plant-based diet, but vegetarians don’t eat meat.

I think this is really well worded:
MN: “…it is not necessary to eat meat. Meat is not an essential nutrient. I can think of plenty of advantages to eating no meat, eating less meat, or eating meat produced in ways that are far better for the health of animals, people, and the planet.”

We would all be better off if we steered clear of meat, at least a little bit. Meatless Mondays are a great start. It seems in the United States (and elsewhere) there is a fetish with protein consumption. Have you ever known a person to be protein deficient?? If you’re getting enough CALORIES you’re getting enough protein. Yes even the super-athlete. So following a whole-food, plant-based diet I get plenty of protein. What is often forgotten or not spoken of though, is those Methane/CO2/Nitrous Oxide producing ‘beef’ cows produce pretty much the same amount of environmentally degrading gases and sludge as do their ‘dairy’ cow counterparts.
Is dairy necessary? What does it have that people don’t already obtain from a whole food or even a vegan diet? There certainly is no calcium crisis, as the industry wants people to believe. Protein? It seems most Americans get too much already. Bovine hormones? No thank you.
@Brandon:
“From a purely evolutionary point of view, I cannot understand why drinking the milk of another species is seen as a nutritional bonus. The biological purpose of milk is to feed it to your young…”

Yes the purpose of breast-milk, bovine or human or from whatever mammal, is to feed the young of that species. I’m not sure why people think Organic milk is ‘hormone-free.’ While rBGH/rBST is not used, and the milk is not likely to be contaminated with pesticides or antibiotics like milk produced non-organically, it is from a bovine breast, and will certainly contain hormones.

I realize this post stated that “people who call themselves vegetarians” have a wide variety of diets, but would appreciate it if any attempt to actually define vegetarianism didn’t confuse the issue. The definition is clear: no meat or fish. That some long to call themselves vegetarian because they have restricted their animal-eating in some other way doesn’t change the definition. I don’t criticize their choices; I very occasionally (a few times a year) eat meat, and therefore don’t claim the word, though I’ll explain my choices if someone asks. I don’t see it as a badge of honor, so it doesn’t matter. It would be helpful if food writers, especially the meat eaters, would hew to the simple and accepted definition.