breatharian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowSpecialist; often journalistic, critical, or New Age contexts
Quick answer
What does “breatharian” mean?
A person who claims to be able to live without consuming food or water, subsisting solely on air or energy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who claims to be able to live without consuming food or water, subsisting solely on air or energy.
A practitioner of a lifestyle or belief system in which physical sustenance is purported to come from sources other than material food (e.g., prana, sunlight, cosmic energy). Often used with scepticism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences.
Connotations
Both regions view the term with equal scepticism, though it may appear more frequently in US media covering alternative lifestyles.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “breatharian” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a breatharian.[Subject] practices breatharianism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breatharian” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He breatharianised for a week, or so he claimed.
- They are attempting to breatharianise.
American English
- She breatharianized for a month, according to her blog.
- He talks about breatharianizing.
adverb
British English
- He claimed to live breatharianly.
- She attempted to exist breatharianly for a fortnight.
American English
- They purport to live breatharianly.
- She said she was functioning breatharianly.
adjective
British English
- Her breatharian beliefs were met with concern.
- A breatharian community was alleged to exist.
American English
- The breatharian philosophy is not scientifically supported.
- He promoted a breatharian diet.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used only in anthropological, sociological, or religious studies contexts analysing fringe beliefs.
Everyday
Used rarely, typically in incredulous or mocking tones.
Technical
Used in critical nutrition science or sceptical literature to debunk such claims.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breatharian”
- Misspelling as 'breatharian' (double 'a'), confusing with 'vegetarian' or 'fruitarian' in meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is physiologically impossible for humans to survive long-term without food and water. Claims of breatharianism are pseudoscientific and dangerous.
It is a modern portmanteau of 'breath' and the suffix '-arian' (as in vegetarian), coined in the late 20th century.
A few individuals have gained notoriety for such claims (e.g., Wiley Brooks, Jasmuheen), but their assertions have been widely debunked or linked to covert eating.
A fruitarian eats only fruit, nuts, and seeds. A breatharian claims to need no physical food or water at all, which is an extreme and unscientific distinction.
A person who claims to be able to live without consuming food or water, subsisting solely on air or energy.
Breatharian is usually specialist; often journalistic, critical, or new age contexts in register.
Breatharian: in British English it is pronounced /brɛˈθɛːrɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /brɛˈθɛriən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To live on air (informal, metaphorical antecedent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BREATH + ARIAN (like 'vegetarian') = someone whose diet is only breath.
Conceptual Metaphor
Nourishment is immaterial / The body is a closed system.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core claim of a breatharian?