850 Vegans Voted...and the winning definition of Veganism is....

I recently conducted the following 1 question poll on Facebook:

Which of the following definitions of ‘veganism/vegan’ most resonates with you? Only pick 1 response. Let's see how veganism is - or should be - defined.

These were the options, in order: (the first option came from a standard dictionary; the rest came from various vegan groups or websites, but shortened to a concise option.)

#1 – A person who does not eat or use animal products

#2 - Veganism is an advanced way of living in accordance with Reverence for Life

#3 – Recognizing the Right of all sentient animals to be treated with respect/justice

#4 – One who tries to live without exploiting animals, for the benefit of animals/humans/Earth

#5 - 'seek to end the use of animals by man for food/commodities/vivisection/hunting/

#6 – A way of life that seeks, as far as practically possible, to not exploit animals

#7 – The doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals

#8 – The moral baseline of an animal rights/ anti-speciesism movement

#9 – Not just a diet; a commitment on an individual level to abolish animal slavery

10 – Do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation

After 835 vegan votes, many of whom are activists, these were the top 3 choices, in order of most voted for. The top two responses were clearly the leading two choices by a great margin.

*Recognizing the Right of all sentient animals to be treated 
with respect/justice

*Do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in 
activities of their exploitation

*A person who does not eat or use animal products

It seemed logical to combine the top two, so the winning definition is:

 *Veganism: Recognizing the Right of all sentient animals to be treated with respect and justice. Vegans do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation.

Here are some compelling comments that were left:

   Alex Kolenoff · Answered 'seek to end the use of animals by man for food/commodities /vivisection/hunting/

   They all seem very similar above, EXCEPT one which is not just describing what you do personally, but says "seek to end the use of animals by MAN'. That is far more encompassing and involves more than just changing one's own behaviour.

   Eriyah Flynn · Answered do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation

   The reason I chose "do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation" over "Recognizing the right of all sentient animals to be treated with respect and justice" is that recognizing and doing are two different things. Lots of people claim to respect and treat animals justly while they are using and consuming them. I also like the definition by the Vegan Society, because face it, no one is vegan if we get down to tertiary animal ingredients, like pigs bones in asphalt. I've been accused of being a sizeist for continuing to drive a car or fly in a plane because of the insects I kill when I do those things....

Janet Weeks V · Answered Not just a diet; a commitment on an individual level to abolish animal slavery

   Stopping my blind consumption of animals resulted from awakening to my own inconsistency between "loving" animals and exploiting them. It was coming to grips with a lifetime of complicity in animal suffering, which I wanted to correct immediately. So, the commitment for life to abolish all animal slavery necessarily meant to prohibit my own consumption of animals in any form, eating them, wearing them, using products made from or tested on them, or being entertained by them. And it meant becoming an active voice for animals at every opportunity.

Janine Laura Bronson · Answered do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation

I agree with the first two combined, but shouldn't we somehow add the word, or term ‘world-peace’ because veganism can avert/should avert war worldwide…

Rolanda Celina · Answered do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation

There can never be peace and happiness in the world so long as we exploit other living creatures for food or otherwise. http://evolvecampaigns.org.uk

Marie Le Boeuf · Answered Veganism is an advanced way of living in accordance with Reverence for Life

“I believe it is the natural evolution...”

Mary Martin Loder · Answered - A way of life that seeks as far as practically possible to not exploit animals

“I chose the option with "as far as practically possible" because saying definitively that I don't exploit animals invites people to bring up the old "you live in a house and drive a car, yada, yada yada. No one is 100% vegan, and I think it's a plus that we admit that.” http://www.animalperson.net/

Wendy Kobylarz · Answered - The moral baseline of an animal rights/anti-speciesism movement

“I'm not actually completely satisfied with any answer here, because I think it is a combination of these things, particularly the moral baseline of a movement *and* the desire of humans (not just man) to live without exploiting animals insofar as that is humanly possible (with effort when necessary). And I feel that this is also a commitment toward abolishing animal slavery, but I'm not content with it being simply a personal choice, hence my vote for it being the moral baseline of a movement.”

Nonhuman Emancipation · Answered Recognizing the right of all sentient animals to be treated with respect/justice – and left this Joan Dunayer quote:

“A vegan lifestyle is an animal rights worldview put into practice. By "vegan lifestyle" I mean a commitment to avoiding products and enterprises that involve intentional, needless infliction of nonhuman suffering and death. - Joan Dunayer; Promoting Veganism, Nonspeciesist Advocacy, SPECIESISM pages 154-155.”

Karen V Bevis – “I have always like the definition of Donald Watson who coined the term 'vegan' and was co-founder of the UK Vegan Society in 1944: ‘Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom, and includes a reverence for life. It applies to the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, animal milk and its derivatives, and encourages the use of alternatives for all commodities derived wholly or in part from animals. It is probably a bit long for what you are looking for, but I think it is quite explicit.”

Dan Cudahy – “I would combine it something like this: Veganism, as a philosophy and a practice, recognizes the right of all sentient animals to be treated with respect and justice, and the doctrine that humankind should live without exploiting such animals. It is the moral baseline of the animal rights movement. Vegans do not consume, wear, or use sentient animals, or take part in any activities of their exploitation.” http://http://unpopularveganessays.blogspot.com/

M De Lourdes Carapelho · Answered Veganism is an advanced way of living in accordance with Reverence for Life

“For me...Veganism is an advanced way of living in accordance with Reverence for Life, recognizing the right of all sentient animals to be treated with respect/justice. It’s the moral baseline of an animal rights/anti-speciesism movement. Vegans do not consume or wear animal products, use animals, nor take part in activities of their exploitation.”

Kristen Lee Ohanyan · Answered do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation

“Veganism is an advanced way of living in accordance with Reverence for Life, NonViolence and Ahimsa. Vegans do not consume/wear/use animals or take part in activities of their exploitation.” http://vegansocietyofpeace.org/

Vegans World Network left this comment: “Original 1944 definition by Donald Watson; founder and man who coined the term – ‘Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom, and includes a reverence for life. It applies to the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, animal milk and its derivatives, and encourages the use of alternatives for all commodities derived wholly or in part from animals.’ Source link: http://www.vegansworldnetwork.org/about.php#philosophy  

* Historical Definitions from The Vegan Society Website (omitted from the 2014 launched new website, sadly*

The Vegan Society – U.K. - “A vegan is someone who tries to live without exploiting animals, for the benefit of animals, people and the planet. Vegans eat a plant-based diet, with nothing coming from animals - no meat, milk, eggs or honey, for example. A vegan lifestyle also avoids leather, wool, silk and other animal products for clothing or any other purpose.” (presently on their home page)

A definition from The Vegan Society in its earlier years:

   “In this Memorandum the word "veganism" denotes 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 humans, animals and the environment.”  Source link: http://www.vegansociety.com/pdf/ArticlesofAssociation.pdf

'The object of the Society shall be to end the exploitation of animals by man"; and 'The word veganism shall mean the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals." The Society pledges itself 'in pursuance of its object" to 'seek to end the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection and all other uses involving exploitation of animal life by man.’  (From Veganism Defined; Leslie Cross, (Vice-President; The Vegan Society)  published in Spring of 1951 Source Link: http://www.ivu.org/history/world-forum/1951vegan.html)

“Today, the Society remains as determined as ever to promote vegan lifestyles - that is, ways of living that seek to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. With your help, veganism will soon be accepted and understood across the globe. Ultimately, the use of animal products (such as meat, dairy, eggs, leather and wool) will be viewed as an inhumane and unsustainable practice from a much less enlightened age.”  Source link: http://www.vegansociety.com/about/history.aspx

Other sources:

American Vegan Society - “Vegans live on products of the plant kingdom. Veganism is compassion in action. It is a philosophy, diet, and lifestyle. Veganism is an advanced way of living in accordance with Reverence for Life, recognizing the rights of all living creatures, and extending to them the compassion, kindness, and justice exemplified in the Golden Rule. Vegans exclude flesh, fish, fowl, dairy products (animal milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.), eggs, honey, animal gelatin, and all other foods of animal origin. Veganism also excludes animal products such as leather, wool, fur, and silk in clothing, upholstery, etc. Vegans usually make efforts to avoid the less-than-obvious animal oils, secretions, etc., in many products such as soaps, cosmetics, toiletries, household goods and other common commodities.”

From Professor Gary Francione’s AbolitionistApproach.com site:

“This site also seeks to make clear that the moral baseline of an animal rights movement is veganism. Veganism is not merely a matter of diet; it is a moral and political commitment to abolition on the individual level and extends not only to matters of food, but to clothing and other products, and to other personal actions and choices. It is important to recognize that just as an abolitionist with respect to human slavery cannot continue to be a slave-owner, an abolitionist with respect to animal slavery cannot continue to consume or use animal flesh or animal products. Source link: http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/about/mission-statement/

Animal Equality website -  “…Vegans choose to live a lifestyle that respects other animals as sentient individuals whose lives have meaning and do not consume, wear or use animal products or take part in activities which exploit animals.”….Source link: http://www.animalequality.net/Veganism

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The definition from non-vegan standard dictionary sources:

Oxford Dictionary - A person who does not eat or use animal products -http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/vegan?view=uk

Merriem-Webster - “a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products; also: one who abstains from using animal products (as leather).