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veganism

American  
[vee-guhn-iz-uhm, vay-guhn-iz-uhm] / ˈvi gənˌɪz əm, ˈveɪ gənˌɪz əm /

noun

  1. the practice of adhering to a vegan diet or lifestyle.


Explanation

Veganism is the philosophy and practice of eating no food that comes from animals, including meat, milk, and eggs. For some, veganism also means avoiding the use of animal products like leather and fur. Veganism is the strictest form of vegetarianism, and people who follow this practice only eat plant-based foods. If you want to give veganism a try, you'll need to give up butter, cheese, and eggs — but there are plenty of substitutes made from soy, nuts, and other vegan sources. Vegan was coined in 1944, using the first three and last two letters of vegetarian, by Donald Watson, publisher of a newsletter for strict vegetarians called The Vegan News.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Veganism is a tougher sell for strength athletes, who have higher protein needs than the average population.

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2024

“Hip-hop heads and normcore hikers and campers. Veganism is small, but it crosses all identities. It’s for anyone who truly champions equality, who realizes they have a chance to make a difference in real time.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2024

"Veganism is a great choice on land, where plants grow - but we're on the sea, where the fish live," says Grey.

From BBC • May 30, 2020

Veganism and vegan products are burgeoning thanks to social media, while a consensus forming that eating less meat would almost certainly be better for our health, and for the planet.

From The Guardian • Oct. 25, 2019

Veganism is based on the moral principle that ALL animals, human and non-human, are deserving of the same rights.

From New York Times • May 12, 2018

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