adj
Uncommon
vegan
VEE-guhn
Vegan (adj) means containing no animal products at all, such as meat, eggs, dairy, or leather. Example: “The bakery now offers a fully vegan menu with dairy-free pastries.”
adj
1
Containing no animal products at all, such as meat, eggs, dairy, or leather.
"The bakery now offers a fully vegan menu with dairy-free pastries."
"She switched to a vegan diet for both health and ethical reasons."
"Is this soup vegan, or does it contain cream or butter?"
noun
1
A person who avoids eating or using any animal products.
"As a vegan, he checks every label for hidden dairy or gelatin."
"My sister is a vegan and brings her own cake to birthday parties."
"Several vegans in our office suggested ordering from the new falafel place."
How to use vegan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or something) that avoids all animal products, going further than vegetarian.
Common mistake
Vegan and vegetarian are not the same — vegetarians may still eat eggs and dairy, while vegans avoid all animal-derived products.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
vegan diet
strictly vegan
vegan options
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Word forms
- Plural
- vegans
Fill the gap
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The bakery now offers a fully _____ menu with dairy-free pastries.
Etymology
Coined in 1944 by Donald Watson, founder of the Vegan Society, as a shortened form of "vegetarian."
Synonyms
View more →
plant-based
animal-free
strict vegetarian
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for vegan
See all rhymes for vegan →Frequently asked questions
What does “vegan” mean?
The word “vegan” means containing no animal products at all, such as meat, eggs, dairy, or leather. In plain terms, someone (or something) that avoids all animal products, going further than vegetarian.
How do you pronounce “vegan”?
“Vegan” is pronounced VEE-guhn (/ˈviːɡən/ in IPA).
How do you use “vegan” in a sentence?
Here is “vegan” used in a sentence: “The bakery now offers a fully vegan menu with dairy-free pastries.”
What part of speech is “vegan”?
Depending on how it is used, “vegan” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “vegan” come from?
The word “vegan” dates back to around 1944. Coined in 1944 by Donald Watson, founder of the Vegan Society, as a shortened form of "vegetarian.".
Is “vegan” a common word?
“Vegan” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “vegan” have?
“Vegan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: containing no animal products at all, such as meat, eggs, dairy, or leather.
What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian?
A vegetarian avoids meat but may still eat animal products such as eggs, milk, and cheese. A vegan avoids all animal products entirely, including eggs, dairy, and honey, and often extends this to non-food items like leather.
What is the difference between vegan and plant-based?
'Vegan' describes food or products that contain no animal ingredients at all, and often reflects a wider ethical lifestyle. 'Plant-based' usually describes a diet built mainly around plant foods, but the term is used more loosely and sometimes still allows occasional animal products.
Can the word vegan describe things other than food?
Yes. Because a vegan avoids every kind of animal product, 'vegan' can describe non-food items too, such as vegan leather, cosmetics, or clothing made without any animal-derived materials.
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