In the early days of vaping, the term ‘e-cigarette’ was widely used. It sought to explain the purpose of a vape kit and make it clear to the public what vaping devices were for. While this definition was useful initially, it can actually be quite misleading and introduce a correlation with smoking that is not accurate.
These days, e-cigarette is used far less frequently. That said, health organisations often use terms such as ‘vape kits’ and ‘e-cigarettes’ interchangeably, to help to cover all devices. While this makes a lot of sense, perhaps now is the time to retire the moniker and use more accurate names, such as vape kits or vaping devices, exclusively.
What is the difference between vapes and e-cigarettes?
There is no real difference between vapes and e-cigarettes. The only difference is in the name; they are two ways of describing the exact same product.
The terms e-cigarette and vapes kits can be used interchangeably for battery-operated devices that heat an e-liquid and help users switch to vaping from smoking.
E-cigarette is the original term, short for electronic cigarette, and it is still used today. This was a logical name at the time as many of the first vapes available on the market were designed to look very much like a cigarette and were commonly known as cigalikes.
However, names related to vape/vaping are more popular today as they can help to describe both the device and the act of using it, as the way a vape kit works is to heat the e-liquid inside to produce a vapour which can be inhaled. This flexibility means these terms are able to encompass the growing range of products and offer a more descriptive way of defining both the devices and how they are used. Not to mention that now it is very rare to see vape kits designed to look like cigarettes, and there are actually now more vapers in the UK than there are smokers according to the most recent Adult smoking habits in the UK update.
You can find out more about the introduction of the name ‘e-cigarette’ and the history of vape devices in our article about the evolution of vaping.
Do the words we use for vaping products matter?
Yes, the words we use for vaping products matter. As with anything, the names we give things can influence the perception that we have for them. The term ‘e-cigarette’ can carry negative associations with smoking or tobacco, even though there is no tobacco used in vaping devices, and they are primarily used by people aiming to stop smoking.
Words and phrases such as vape kits and vape devices offer a more neutral description and feel more up to date. Using ‘vape’ helps to differentiate the act of vaping from the act of smoking, which is a very important distinction.
Clearer terminology supports harm reduction by helping smokers see vaping as a distinct and less harmful option, which may make them more likely to switch to vaping. As the NHS states, evidence shows that vaping is less harmful than smoking and exposes users to fewer toxins and at lower levels.
The Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update, a report led by academics at King’s College London with a group of international collaborators, reviewed international evidence to find that vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking, in the short and medium term, stating that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking.
What do the experts say?
The NHS offers a wide range of well trusted resources online and in their informational pieces, they tend to now use ‘vape’ and ‘vaping.’ However, there are still instances when they use the term ‘e-cigarettes’.
ASH Scotland, a charity that is working to bring about a healthier Scotland, uses the terms interchangeably. You can find examples of both throughout their site.
The same is true for the GOV.uk website, which makes use of both terms and includes them in a variety of different contexts. However, we are seeing a shift towards ‘vape’ even in legislation, with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and Vaping products Duty both using vape as opposed to e-cigarette in their titles and main text, although the word e-cigarettes is used within the body of text.
Can the term e-cigarette negatively impact the vaping industry?
The term e-cigarette has the potential to negatively affect the overall aim of the vaping industry, which is to offer a viable alternative to smoking. This is due to the potential confusion and negative connotations of the name.
The term has the danger of creating a mental link to smoking, and smokers looking to switch may wrongly believe that vaping is just as harmful. This is an important concern, as in 2023 a study funded by Cancer Research UK revealed that 57% of the people asked said they thought vaping was either as harmful as smoking or more harmful.
Conclusion
At Evapo, we have long been making the switch towards terms that prioritise the words vape and vaping, as this encompasses all products and encourages users to make the switch to vaping.
Like many other trusted experts, we have continued to use the term ‘e-cigarette’ occasionally and been mindful about the fact that it is recognisable to those who may not know much about vaping. However, we will continue to prioritise terms that are more descriptive and inclusive, like vapes, vape devices and vape kits, to help create a clearer distinction between vaping and smoking.
Sources:
NHS.uk – 07/01/2026 (last checked)
Gov.uk – 29/09/2022
NHS.uk – 10/10/2022 (last updated)
Ashscotland.org.uk - 07/01/2026 (last checked)
Gov.uk – 13/11/2026
Gov.uk – 16/11/2026
Ucl.ac.uk – 28/02/2024
