NYT Dictionary

VEGAN

/ˈviːɡən/
AdjectiveNounVE-ganve-gan · 2 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

Not containing animal products (meat, eggs, milk, leather, etc) or inherently involving animal use.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *weg-o-der.? Proto-Indo-European *weǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *woǵéyetider. Proto-Italic *wogeōder.? Latin vegeō Latin vegetus Latin vegetāre, vegetō Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin vegetābilisbor. Old French vegetablebor. Middle English vegetable English vegetable Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusder. Middle English -arie English -ary Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Proto-Italic *-ānos Latin -ānus Old French -ainder. Middle English -an English -an English -arian English vegetarian English vegan Clipping of vegetarian or vegetable, 1944. Coined by English vegan activist Donald Watson of the Vegan Society and first used in the name of The Vegan News.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

plant-based

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles:

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