Veganism is a lifestyle which excludes consumption of any animals or animal products. This means that as well as not eating meat (like vegetarians) vegans refrain from cheese, eggs, honey, silk, leather, wool etc.

Those who are vegan due to sensitivity to animal rights also generally only use 'cruelty-free' products, which are products that have not been tested on animals or resulted in any other forms of animal abuse.

Furthermore, many vegans are environmentalists and activists, who go as far as to dedicate themselves to fighting animal abuse in all forms, including some zoos, circuses, issues concerning domesticated pets etc.