Who is Considered a Vegan? Understanding the Lifestyle

December 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to research from the UK, the number of people following a vegan diet increased by 350% in the decade leading up to 2016. However, the question of who is considered a vegan is more complex than just a diet, encompassing ethical, environmental, and health considerations.

Quick Summary

This article explores the core principles and motivations defining a vegan, clarifying the distinction between ethical and dietary veganism and detailing excluded animal products.

Key Points

Core Definition: A vegan is someone who excludes all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty from their life, encompassing food, clothing, and other product choices.
Ethical vs. Dietary: The distinction lies in motivation; ethical vegans are driven by a moral philosophy, while dietary vegans (or 'plant-based') focus on health and environment.
Broad Exclusions: Veganism avoids all animal products, including obvious ones like meat and dairy, and less obvious ones such as honey, gelatin, and certain cosmetics.
Primary Motivations: Key reasons for adopting veganism include preventing animal cruelty, reducing environmental impact, and improving personal health.
Comprehensive Lifestyle: For many, the commitment goes beyond diet, influencing choices like avoiding leather, wool, silk, and products tested on animals.
Distinction from Plant-Based: While both focus on plants, a plant-based diet is a more flexible dietary approach, whereas veganism is an encompassing ethical lifestyle.

Understanding the Definition of a Vegan

At its core, a vegan is an individual who abstains from consuming or using animal products and byproducts. The Vegan Society, which coined the term in 1944, offers a definition. This foundational principle distinguishes veganism from a simple diet choice, framing it instead as a comprehensive lifestyle rooted in a specific ethical stance.

The Core Principle: Avoiding Exploitation

The central motivation for most vegans is the belief that animals have a right to life and freedom from exploitation. This philosophy extends to the entire supply chain of animal-derived goods, influencing choices regarding dairy products, eggs, and all forms of animal farming.

Beyond the Plate: A Lifestyle Choice

For many, being a vegan extends beyond dietary choices to encompass other consumer behaviors aimed at avoiding harm to animals. This includes avoiding non-food items derived from animals, such as leather, suede, wool, and silk, as well as products tested on animals. This holistic approach reflects a commitment to minimizing one’s impact on animal suffering in all practical ways.

The Distinction: Ethical Vegan vs. Dietary Vegan

While the definition of veganism originates from an ethical philosophy, the motivation behind adopting the lifestyle can differ, leading to a distinction between ethical vegans and dietary vegans.

Ethical Veganism

An ethical vegan follows the lifestyle based on a moral philosophy opposing all animal exploitation, influencing every aspect of their life, from food to clothing and entertainment. For them, there is no justification for using animals when alternatives exist.

Dietary Veganism (Plant-Based)

This term, often used interchangeably with 'plant-based', refers to those who adopt the diet primarily for health or environmental reasons without necessarily extending the philosophy to other parts of their lives. This approach is more flexible and often focuses on the health benefits of a diet rich in whole plant foods.

What Vegans Don't Consume or Use

Understanding who is considered a vegan involves knowing what they exclude. Here is a list of common items vegans avoid:

Meat and Poultry: Beef, chicken, lamb, pork, duck, etc.
Fish and Seafood: Fish, shellfish, crustaceans.
Dairy Products: Milk, cheese, butter, cream, yogurt, and ice cream.
Eggs: Whole eggs or ingredients containing eggs.
Honey: Excluded by most ethical vegans.
Animal-derived Ingredients: Additives like gelatin, whey, casein, or carmine.
Leather and Suede: Derived from animal hides.
Wool and Silk: Products made from sheep's wool or silkworms.
Products Tested on Animals: Cosmetics, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

Comparison: Vegan vs. Plant-Based vs. Vegetarian

The terms 'vegan,' 'plant-based,' and 'vegetarian' are distinct:


Feature	Vegan	Plant-Based Diet	Vegetarian
Dietary Scope	Excludes all animal products (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, honey).	Primarily consists of plant foods, but may include small amounts of animal products.	Excludes meat and fish, but may include dairy and/or eggs.
Ethical Stance	Based on a philosophical belief to avoid animal exploitation and cruelty.	Focuses on health and environmental benefits rather than animal ethics.	Generally motivated by a desire to avoid eating animal flesh.
Lifestyle Scope	Extends beyond diet to include non-food items.	Refers only to dietary choices.	Can be dietary or extend to some non-food products.
Processed Food	May consume processed foods free of animal products.	Often emphasizes whole, minimally processed plant foods.	May consume processed foods containing eggs and dairy.

The Many Motivations Behind Veganism

People adopt a vegan lifestyle for various reasons:

Animal Welfare and Ethics

A deep empathy for animals and opposition to factory farming practices is a primary driver for many.

Environmental Concerns

Awareness of animal agriculture's environmental impact, including contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, motivates many to adopt a vegan diet.

Health Benefits

A well-planned vegan diet can offer health benefits like lower blood pressure and cholesterol, but requires careful planning for nutrient intake.

Conclusion: More Than a Trend

Ultimately, who is considered a vegan is someone who embraces a lifestyle defined by the principled exclusion of animal exploitation. While motivations vary, the common thread is avoiding animal-derived products for food, clothing, or other purposes. This makes veganism a comprehensive and purposeful choice, not simply a dietary fad. Understanding its core principles is key to appreciating this commitment to a more compassionate and sustainable world.

The Vegan Society's official definition

Navigating Nuances and Grey Areas

Some grey areas exist within veganism, such as the use of fig wasps for pollination, sparking debate. However, the core philosophy remains consistent: reduce animal exploitation as far as 'possible and practicable,' as the Vegan Society's definition states. Most vegans focus on minimizing impact where ethical alternatives are available.

Practical Steps to Becoming Vegan

Transitioning to veganism can be gradual or immediate. Ensuring adequate nutrition and exploring alternatives are key for a sustainable approach.

Summary of Veganism

Core Tenet: Avoiding Animal Exploitation

Philosophy: Seek to exclude all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals.

Types of Vegans

Ethical: Based on a moral philosophy.
Dietary: Follows the diet for health or environmental reasons.

Exclusions: What Vegans Avoid

Animal Products: Meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and honey.
Non-food Items: Leather, wool, silk, and cosmetics tested on animals.

Motivations: Why People Go Vegan

Animal Welfare: Belief that sentient beings deserve respect.
Environmental Impact: Reducing carbon footprint.
Personal Health: Potential benefits.

The Rising Popularity of Veganism

Accessibility: Increased availability of plant-based options.
Community: Growing support and resources available.

Conclusion: A Reflective Choice

In conclusion, being a vegan represents a conscious choice rooted in beliefs about animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and personal health. It is an active lifestyle committed to minimizing harm by excluding animal products.

Frequently Asked Questions

A vegetarian avoids eating meat and fish, but may still consume animal byproducts like dairy and eggs. A vegan, however, excludes all animal products and byproducts from their diet and lifestyle.

No, most vegans do not eat honey because it is produced by bees and its collection is seen as a form of animal exploitation. Vegans use alternatives like maple syrup, agave syrup, or other plant-based sweeteners.

Not necessarily. While a vegan diet is entirely plant-based, a plant-based diet simply emphasizes plant foods but may still include small amounts of animal products. A vegan lifestyle is defined by ethical principles, whereas a plant-based diet is often motivated by health or environmental factors.

Ethical vegans extend their principles beyond food. They avoid clothing made from leather, wool, or silk, and refuse to use cosmetics or household products that contain animal-derived ingredients or were tested on animals.

Vegans obtain protein from a wide variety of plant sources like legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, and tempeh. With careful planning, a vegan diet can provide all necessary nutrients, though supplements for B12 may be necessary.

A well-planned vegan diet is recognized as healthy and can reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases. However, a 'junk-food' vegan diet consisting of heavily processed vegan alternatives may not be beneficial for health.

With the increasing availability of vegan products and resources, becoming and staying vegan is easier than ever before. While it requires learning and adjustment, many find the transition less difficult than anticipated, especially with access to supportive communities and information.