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 The liner is smudge-proof and easy to maneuver, and its tip, composed of tiny vegan bristles, can create a range of looks. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2024 Zoom in: Boxcar has reached a similar notoriety — the restaurant has been up for several national vegan awards and pop star Lizzo is even a fan of its Detroit-style, gooey crusts and creative, seasonal toppings. Meira Gebel, Axios, 24 Sep. 2024 Barsine Leather Mini Backpack $22 at Amazon This vegan leather mini backpack is big enough to hold essentials like a water bottle and snacks in the main compartment. Terri Peters, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2024 The 3 is sportier and luxurious, with faster acceleration, more responsive handling, and optional Nappa leather seats in place of the Volvo’s vegan interior. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vegan 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vegan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 3 Oct. 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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