Vape Glossary: Common Terms Explained

Vaping terminology can make an otherwise simple question difficult to understand. This reference explains commonly encountered terms without recommending that anyone start vaping. Device instructions and up-to-date health or legal advice take priority when safety matters.

A–C

Aerosol: Tiny liquid droplets or particles suspended in air. E-cigarettes generate an aerosol, not harmless water vapour.

Atomizer: The part of a device that heats liquid to produce an aerosol, often including a heating element and wick.

Auto-draw: A device design that activates when airflow or pressure is detected.

Battery protection: Electrical safeguards intended to reduce risks such as overheating, overcurrent or unusually long activation. Protection circuits do not eliminate every risk.

Blinker: Informal slang for a long draw reaching a device’s built-in cutoff. See our blinker explainer.

Cartridge: A replaceable liquid-containing unit; some are prefilled and sealed, while others are intended to be refilled.

Coil: A metal or other heating element used to turn e-liquid into an inhalable aerosol. Coils and wicks can wear or become damaged.

D–H

Disposable vape: A device generally marketed for a limited useful life. Some are rechargeable, but that does not make them refillable or safe to dismantle.

Dry hit: An unpleasant harsh draw associated with a wick that is insufficiently saturated or a damaged heating assembly.

E-cigarette: Electronic cigarette; commonly a battery-powered system that heats a liquid to create an aerosol.

E-liquid / vape juice: The liquid used by many e-cigarettes. Common ingredients include propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavourings and, in many products, nicotine.

ENDS: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, a term regulators use for certain nicotine-delivering devices.

Freebase nicotine: One chemical form of nicotine used in e-liquids. How it feels and is absorbed depends on formulation and use.

M–P

mg/mL: Milligrams of nicotine per millilitre of liquid, a measure of concentration, not the total dose a person absorbs. See our strength guide.

Nicotine salts: Formulations of nicotine combined with acids, commonly used in e-liquids. They may allow high concentrations with reduced harshness, but nicotine remains addictive.

Pod: A liquid-containing unit used in a compatible pod system. Pods can be prefilled, refillable or sealed depending on the product.

PG (propylene glycol): A carrier ingredient often used with vegetable glycerin in e-liquid. Food-use safety does not automatically establish inhalation safety.

Priming: Preparing a new replaceable coil according to the manufacturer’s instructions before use to avoid a dry wick.

R–W

Rechargeable: A device with a battery designed to be charged again. Use only a compatible charger and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

Secondhand aerosol: Aerosol exhaled into the air by someone using an e-cigarette. It may expose nearby people to nicotine and other substances. See our secondhand exposure guide.

Tank: A part of some devices that stores e-liquid and supplies it to the heating assembly.

VG (vegetable glycerin): A viscous carrier ingredient found in many e-liquids. Its proportion can influence liquid flow and aerosol characteristics.

Wattage: Electrical power used by a device. Adjustable settings must remain within the supported range of the specific hardware.

Wick: Material, often cotton, used to carry e-liquid toward the heating element.

Where to go next

Visit the Start Here guide to explore related topics or the Troubleshooting Center if you are researching a device problem. For general definitions and health context, see the CDC’s e-cigarette overview and FDA’s ENDS overview.