Basics
What is the difference between veganism and a plant-based diet?
Short answer
This is a common mix-up of terms. A plant-based diet is only about the plate — eating without animal products. Veganism is broader: a way of living that tries to limit animal use wherever possible — not only in food, but also in clothes (no leather, wool or silk), cosmetics (not tested on animals) and entertainment. You can therefore eat 100% plant-based and not be vegan — and, more rarely, the reverse.
In practice many people use the words interchangeably. On a label, “plant-based” is often marketing and does not always mean zero animal ingredients (honey or casein still sneak in).
For shopping certainty, look for a vegan certification or read the ingredient list. For veganism, the question is whether a product requires animal use.