Vegan Was Coined From the First and Last Letters of Vegetarian
A vegan avoids all animal products. The word was invented in 1944 with an explicit explanation of its formation.
A vegan avoids all animal products, including dairy and eggs. The word has a documented birth: Donald Watson coined it in 1944 when founding the Vegan Society, taking the first three and last two letters of *vegetarian* because, as he put it, veganism starts where vegetarianism leaves off. Few words have such a precise and self-explained origin. *Vegetarian* itself is older, from the 1830s, and is not from *vegetable* alone but influenced by Latin *vegetus*, lively.
- One avoiding animal products. *A vegan diet.*
- Vegetarian — avoiding meat only. *A vegetarian.*
- Donald Watson — who coined it. *Donald Watson.*
- 1944 — the year. *Coined in 1944.*
- Veganism — the practice. *Veganism.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | vegan | A vegan. |
| Plural | vegans | Vegans. |
| Adjective | vegan | Vegan food. |
| Noun | veganism | Veganism. |
| Related | vegetarian | Vegetarian. |
- She follows a vegan diet.Practice.
- Watson coined it in 1944.History.
- It takes the start and end of vegetarian.Formation.
Diet terms and what they exclude
- Vegan — all animal products, including dairy, eggs and honey
- Vegetarian — meat and fish
- Pescatarian — meat but not fish
- Lacto-vegetarian — meat, fish and eggs, but keeps dairy
- Plant-based — a looser modern term, not always strict
Coined by Donald Watson in 1944 from the first three and last two letters of *vegetarian*.
Who coined the word vegan?
Donald Watson, in 1944, when founding the Vegan Society. He took the beginning and end of vegetarian.
Is vegetarian from vegetable?
Partly. It was formed in the 1830s and its coiners pointed to Latin vegetus, meaning lively or vigorous, as well.