# vegan

/ˈvɛɡən/ (US) · /vˈiːɡən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vegan
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a person

noun · CEFR B1

someone who chooses not to eat or use anything that comes from an animal, such as meat, milk, eggs, or leather.

For teachers: a person who follows a lifestyle or diet that excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, honey, and materials like leather or wool.

- Since she became a vegan, she has discovered many delicious plant-based recipes.
- As a strict vegan, he meticulously checks the labels of processed foods to ensure no animal-derived additives are present.

Usage: The noun is countable and refers to the person following the lifestyle.

### 2. food or products

adjective · CEFR B1

describes food, clothes, or other products that do not contain any animal parts or materials.

For teachers: pertaining to or consisting of products that do not contain animal-derived ingredients or involve animal exploitation in their production.

- This restaurant has a great selection of vegan burgers and dairy-free desserts.
- The company recently launched a line of vegan leather handbags made from recycled pineapple leaf fibres.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes; typically non-gradable.

## Examples

- She became a vegan to help protect animals.
- The restaurant added several new dishes to the menu to accommodate the growing number of vegans in the city.
- While some people adopt the lifestyle for health benefits, many vegans are motivated by a moral philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient beings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.