What is the difference between a vegan and vegetarian?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Here is a handy little chart (feel free to copy and use it just don't alter it):
Pescetarian-a vegetarian fish
Pollotarian- a vegetarian chicken
Flexitarian- a flexible vegetarian (a dancer or maybe a gymnast who is also vegetarian)
Semi-Vegetarian - a crash between a semi trailer truck and a vegetarian. Not a very pretty site. Vegetarians need to watch out when crossing the street or driving.
Lacto-ovo- eats dairy and eggs (no meat or slaughter by products)
Lacto- eats dairy (no meat or slaughter by products)
Ovo- eats eggs (no meat or slaughter by products)
Strict/Pure Veg (often mis-refered to as veganism)- eats no animal products or by products whatsoever
Raw- eats from 80-100% raw vegetables and fruits, nuts, grain and legume sprouts, seeds, plant oils, sea vegetables, herbs, and fresh juices as in heated to no more than 118 degrees (basically a strict/pure veg diet just made raw)
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Vegan- a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, including humans and the environment.
In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."

vegan because animals are not property

A vegan is a type of vegetarian that does not eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, or honey. They also do not buy, wear, or use products that derive from animals like leather, fur, suede, or reptile skin.

A vegetarian is someone who eats no animals(no meat, fish, seafood, or poultry) but may eat honey, dairy, or eggs, depending on the person's preference or allergies. Some vegetarians will wear animals or use things derived from animals, if they are only a vegetarian for dietary purposes. However, most vegetarians do not wear or use animal products, because most vegetarians do it for ethical or religious reasons.

Vegetarian

The main difference is that the word vegan indicates an entire lifestyle, whereas the word vegetarian only applies to diet. There are varying degrees of vegetarianism (some include eggs and/or dairy), but what they all have in common is that they include no slaughter products. The most common and permissive type of vegwetarianism is ovo-lacto vegetarianism, which includes eggs and dairy. Rarer are vegetarians who include one or the other. The rarest, a "strict" or "total" vegetarian, won't eat any animal products. Any of these people will continue to use animal products and products tested on animals in other parts of their lives.

A vegan, on the other hand, eliminates animal products of all kinds from their life as much as possible (coal and oil are hard to get around, of course). A vegan won't eat beef or dairy, and will also stop buyiing leather and beauty and xraft products that include milk products. A vegan won't eat chicken or eggs, and also will avoid feathers.

I hope this helps.

A vegetarian doesn't buy or eat meat of any kind.

A vegan is a vegetarian who also doesn't:
buy or eat milk, honey, eggs, or products containing them,
buy or wear fur, leather, wool, silk, or things trimmed in them,
buy or use products from companies whose distributors conduct animal toxicity tests,
or frequent zoos, circuses, rodeos, aquariums, and other venues where animals are held in captivity or forced to perform for profit.

It is a total boycott of industries that use animals.

~5 year vegan~

It's a lot more than just vegan & vegetarian...

Meatarian (omnivores) eat anything
Semi-vegetarian eats some meat
Lacto-Vegetarian: will consume dairy.
Ovo-Vegetarian: consumes eggs.
Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian: consumes dairy and eggs.
Pescatarian - A vegetarian who will eat fish.
Pesca-Ovo - eats fish ad eggs not dairy.
Pesca-Latco - eats fish and dairy not eggs.
Pesca-ovo-lacto - eats fish eggs, dairy.
Vegan - abstains from meat and dairy.
Strict vegan - consumes no animal byproduct like dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin, etc.. Will not wear fur,leather or use any product that resulted from animal testing.
Fruitarian: type of vegan that consumes only nuts, seeds and fruit. The really hardcore fruitarians only eat nuts, seeds and fruit they find on the ground so as not to harm the plants they came from.
Microbiotic diet: a diet that consist of mostly grains and legumes.
Raw Foodist: type of vegan that does not consume food heated above 110 F.
Breatharian: type of vegan that consumes only water. Breatharians believe that they get their nutrients from the rising sun.

I'm predominantly vegan for the health benefits.

A vegetarian is someone who just doesn't eat meat (including fish and other seafood) while still consuming dairy (cheese (without Rennet), egg and milk) products.

A vegan is the same thing as a vegetarian, but Vegans don't consume any animal products, including Dairy. Some vegans will go as far as not wearing anything that is made from animals.'

Edit: Lol, I find it funny that I got a Thumbs Down for truthfully answering the question that the OP asked.

Vegetarians simply don't eat animal flesh (fish *are* animals). Depending on their reasoning for being vegetarian, some also won't eat slaughter byproducts, such as gelatin. There are many different reasons someone might be vegetarian...health, religion, they simply don't like the taste of meat, etc. The most common type of vegetarian is an ovo-lacto vegetarian, meaning they eat both eggs & dairy. This is usually what is meant when a person describes themselves as vegetarian. There are also ovo-vegetarians, who will eat eggs, but not dairy, and lacto-vegetarians who will eat dairy products but not eggs.

Veganism is a lifestyle. It isn't just about what you eat. Due to personal ethics, vegans abstain as much as they possibly & reasonably can from consuming or participating in anything that exploits any sentient being. Vegans don't eat anything derived from animals (meat, dairy, eggs, honey, many lesser-known ingredients) or wear animal based fabrics like leather, wool, any kind of fur, or silk. They also don't use anything that contains animal derived products (such as toiletries that contain lanolin, beeswax, etc.) or has been tested on animals. In addition, they don't support "entertainment" involving animals, like circuses, rodeos, & such. Someone who is vegan only in what they eat & not all of that other stuff would be considered a strict vegetarian, *not* vegan. There are also raw vegans who are the same as vegans only they don't eat any food that has been cooked at a temperature higher than 104F-118F, depending on who you ask.

the difference between these 2 is that vegetarians eat milk n/or eggs (this includes stuff like rennetfreecheese yogurt n/or donuts)
whereas vegans consume no animal products whatsoever
the similarity obviously is that both dont eat any meat

rawvegan

vegeterians have a lot of diffrebt meanings of what type they are. but vegans are strict and they don't meat at all and wear or use animal products.

As Daddy bear explained vegan is one of several branches of vegetarian.

vegetarian's don't eat meat.

vegan's don't eat any meat or any product that comes from an animal (milk, cheese, etc)