vegan

noun

veg·​an ˈvē-gən How to pronounce vegan (audio)
also
ˈvā- How to pronounce vegan (audio)
also
ˈve-jən How to pronounce vegan (audio)
or
-ˌjan How to pronounce vegan (audio)
: a strict vegetarian who consumes no food (such as meat, eggs, or dairy products) that comes from animals
also : one who abstains from using animal products (such as leather)
vegan adjective
vegan desserts
a vegan restaurant

Did you know?

The Difference Between Vegetarian, Vegan, and Other Diets

The word vegetarian sprouted up in 1839. Fruitarian ("a person who lives on fruit") ripened by 1893. In 1944, vegetarians who consume no animal or dairy products began calling themselves vegans. Then, in 1993, those who eat fish but no other meat chose pesce, the Italian word for "fish," to create the designation pescatarian. In that same year, meatatarian was served up as a word for those whose diet largely includes meat; that word is rare, however, and is usually used in informal and humorous ways, making it the type of fare not included in our dictionaries. Another fairly recent dietary word is flexitarian, a person who follows a mostly vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish.

Examples of vegan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The same style of bag is available in light or dark indigo denim canvas with contrasting vegan leather trim. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024 The custom signature scent hemp and amber is infused into the vegan bath product collection. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 None of our experts were positive about how or where the okra water trend started, but the movement appeared to gain momentum after vegan content creator Jasmine Duke posted about it on social media in February 2024. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2024 The vegan leather case comes with five different compartments and a snap closure to keep your items secure. Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vegan 

Word History

Etymology

by contraction from vegetarian entry 1

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vegan was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near vegan

Cite this Entry

“Vegan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vegan. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vegan

noun
veg·​an ˈvē-gən How to pronounce vegan (audio)
: a strict vegetarian who does not use animals or dairy products for food
vegan adjective
veganism noun

Medical Definition

vegan

noun
: a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products
vegan adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on vegan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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