nonruminant
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: //nɒnˈruːmɪnənt//
KK: /nɑnˈrumɪnənt/
adjective
Definition
Referring to animals that do not chew cud, meaning they do not have a specialized stomach for digesting food in multiple stages like ruminants do.
Example
Horses are classified as nonruminant animals because they digest food differently than cows.
Conversation
Did you know that pigs are classified as nonruminant animals?
Really? I thought they were similar to cows in that way.
Nope, pigs digest food differently since they are nonruminant.
That makes sense! I guess that's why they have such different diets.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
herbivorous
grazing
pastoral
Antonyms
ruminant
carnivorous
predatory
noun
Definition
An animal that does not chew cud and does not have a complex stomach structure like ruminants do.
Example
Horses and pigs are examples of nonruminant animals.
Conversation
Did you know that a horse is a nonruminant animal?
Really? I thought all animals with hooves were ruminants.
Nope, ruminants are usually cows and sheep.
Root Explanation
Nonruminant → It is formed from "non-" (meaning not) and "ruminant" (from Latin "ruminans", meaning to chew over or to ponder). The term refers to animals that do not chew cud, distinguishing them from ruminants which do.
Memory Tip
Think of 'non-' meaning not, and 'ruminant' relating to chewing cud. This helps you remember that a nonruminant is an animal that does not chew cud.
Visually Confused Words
ruminant
nondominant