Vaping Terminology
Confused with the terminology used on this website?
We have made a list of all the commonly found terms used within the vaping industry with simple explanations to help you improve your knowledge.
Click a term to view the description
A-Z of Vaping Terms
A size of an external battery cell. 18mm diameter, 35mm height.
A size of an external battery cell. 18mm diameter, 50mm height.
A size of an external battery cell. 18mm diameter, 65mm height. This is the most common battery size for E-Cigarettes.
A size of an external battery cell. 20mm diameter, 70mm height.
A size of an external battery cell. 21mm diameter, 70mm height.
A size of an external battery cell. 26mm diameter, 65mm height.
An E-Liquid that you find ideal for vaping all day
Refers to a device that has Adjustable Airflow Control.
A type of E-Cigarette when the battery & tank are one piece & can not be disconnected from each other. Generally this provides you with a more simple device.
Airflow is what allows you to inhale on your E-Cigarette. Some are tighter while others can be looser & some devices even have adjustable airflow so you can dial it in to your perfect setting.
Short for ampere, a measurement for electrical currant.
The component in the E-Cigarette that turns the nicotine solution into a vapour. This term is quickly getting replaced with the word Coil.
Abbreviation for atomiser.
A safety feature found in most E-Cigarettes that prevents the overheating of the battery. If the device gets too hot it will shut-off.
A mixture of VG, PG & often but not always a form of Nicotine.
Refers to either an external battery designed to power mods/ other devices but can also refer to simple pen style devices & their batteries.
A clearomiser (Tank) where the atomiser (Coil) is fitted at the bottom of the tank.
A BCC (Bottom Coil Clearomiser) with two coils. Provides more vapour & a stronger hit.
The battery part for your E-Cigarette kit. Usually a device that requires external batteries.
A BCC (Bottom Coil Clearomiser) with a single coil in a vertical configuration, allowing for improved airflow.
A type of coil that using ceramic. Advertised as having a longer life span with more flavour & vapour.
A style of E-Cigarette designed to looks like a conventional cigarette.
A type of coil that requires one very thin wire to be wrapped around a thicker wire. This creates gaps between the wraps to collect up more E-Liquid therefore creating more flavour & vapour. Once finished its appearance is similar to a guitar string.
A chamber that holds your E-Liquid & Coil that you vape from.
A type of Pod that comes with prefilled E-Liquid & once emptied can not be refilled.
The pursuit of blowing the biggest cloud possible. (Person: Cloud Chaser)
The effect of exhaling vapour into the air.
The part in your E-Cigarette that rapidly heats up your E-Liquid to create the vapour. This is the most commonly used term for Atomiser.
A safety feature found in most E-Cigarettes that limits the amount of time a user can inhale on their E-Cigarette. Once the cuttoff timer is reached the device will cut out.
A harmful compound that has been found in some E-Liquids, although generally far below the levels found in cigarette smoke. To avoid this compound ensure you buy your E-Liquids from a reputable retailer & that the E-Liquid has been tested. Rare to be found in E-Liquids now due to the TPD regulations
Designed to be used & then once finished it is disposed of.
Usually refers to the process of making your own E-Liquid from scratch.
The action of inhaling.
An E-Cigarette that is activated by the action of inhaling. Does not require a button to fire up.
Refers to the mouth piece on your E-Cigarettes. Sometimes removable.
A type of atomiser that requires a custom hand built coil that you drip E-Liquid directly onto. For advanced users only.
Where E-Liquid is dripped directly on the coil, usually on a custom built rebuildable mod.
When there is not enough E-Liquid on your coil & singes/ burns the wicking material causing a burnt taste. Also happens when your coil has reached the end of its life & needs replacing.
This means when you inhale on your E-Cigarette, the vapour is inhaled directly to your lungs without being held in the mouth first. The opposite of MTL (Mouth-to-Lung)
A liquid solution containing nicotine, Propylene Glycol & Vegetable Glycerine. However, sometimes liquids will contain zero nicotine or have a substitute version.
Originally refers to a E-Cigarette model made by Joyetech. eGo is now used to refer to a certain type of fitting on the tank or battery.
An electronic cigarette is an electronic device that simulates tobacco smoking.
Refers to a type of device where the batteries are separate & can be removed. Can also refer to the actual external battery cells themselves.
A person who prioritises flavour in their E-Cigarette as apposed to big clouds of vapour.
When too much E-Liquid has soaked into your coils causing leakage, spitting of juice directly into mouth or a bad vape.
The ‘standard’ type of Nicotine. Has been used by tobacco companies since the 60s.
An E-Liquid solution that has more than 50% PG (Propylene Glycol). Generally used for starter kits.
An E-Liquid solution that has more than 50% VG (Vegetable Glycerine). Generally used for advanced sub-ohm kits.
Happens when a certain part of your coil gets too hot causing a burning or bad taste.
A mixture of Salt Nicotine & Freebase Nicotine.
The action of breathing vapour into your lungs &/or mouth.
A device where the battery is built in & can not be removed.
Another term for E-Liquid.
A term used to describe the throat hit sensation.
An E-Liquid flavour enhancer that adds a cold effect. This is found in most E-Liquids that are cold.
When E-Liquid has over saturated the coil causing the E-Liquid to either leak out of the tank or spit into your mouth.
This is used to measure the battery life or your device or battery cell.
A type of device that has no safety features or adjustability. Works purely off the power of the external battery. For advanced users only.
A piece of mesh that is wrapped into a cilinder & used for the heating part of your coil. Creating a wide surface area of heating producing more flavour & vapour.
The measurement for the strength of your E-Liquid.
The measurement for the volume of E-Liquid.
Used to describe the battery part of your E-Cigarette. Usually aimed at devices with a box shape that take external batteries.
Simply the part of your tank/ E-Cigarette that you put into your mouth to inhale. Also called a Drip Tip.
This means when you inhale on your E-Cigarette the vapour is inhaled into your mouth & held there before being drawn into the lung. The opposite of DTL (Direct-to-Lung)
Shorthand for Nicotine.
The addictive chemical found in cigarettes that is also in your E-Liquid to satisfy your cravings.
A small 10ml bottle with a specific base mix ratio & a specific volume of nicotine that is designed to be added into a Shortfill to give it its nicotine level.
Stands for Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
The measurement for the electrical resistance of your coil.
A type of Pod that allows you to refill with your preferred E-Liquid
A specific type of wicking material used in coils to absorb the E-Liquid before vaporising.
A device that can be charged via USB through a computer or USB wall plug. These devices allow you to still vape while charging so you will not be without your E-Cigarette.
A particular style of E-Cigarette that is slim & looks similar to a pen.
When the resistance of your coil is above than 1.0 ohm.
A chamber that holds your E-Liquid & Coil that you vape from.
An extremely important stage when getting a new coil ready for vaping. You must install your new coil, fill your tank with E-Liquid & leave upright for 5-10mins to allow the wicking material to absorb the E-Liquid. Failure to do this may cause your coil to burn out instantly.
One of the two commonly found base ingredients in an E-Liquid. A colourless liquid that helps provide some of the throat hit. This liquid has been extensively tested for safety.
Similar to a ‘draw’ or to inhale but generally a shorter inhale.
Rebuildable Atomiser. A type of tank that requires a custom hand built coil. For advanced users only.
Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser. A vaping product that requires a custom hand built coil & gets its E-Liquid via drops directly onto the coil. For advanced users only.
A middle-ground between MTL & DTL. Often refereed to as a loose lung hit.
Refers to the resistance of your coil & is measured in Ohms. A low resistance coils produces more heat & vapour while a high resistance coil produces less heat & vapour but better for throat hit.
Rebuilable Tank Atomiser. A type of tank that requires a custom hand built coil. For advanced users only.
A type of Nicotine that has minimal throat hit & acts faster than Freebase Nicotine.
A bottle of E-Liquid that is zero nicotine but has space for a nicotine booster. Allowing the consumer to buy a larger bottle without breaking TPD.
A type of wicking material that has now been widely replaced with cotton or ceramic.
A device that has a built in bottle of E-Liquid that when squeezed forces the E-Liquid into your tank or more likely RDA.
Used for either wicking material or is used to create the heating part of the coil.
The action of allowing your fresh E-Liquid to sit for the ingredients to settle & combine, generally improves flavour & removes any harshness. Can be sped up via agitating & refreshing the air within the bottle.
When the resistance of your coil is lower than 1.0 ohm.
The component on your E-Cigarette that holds your E-Liquid & coil that you inhale from (Sits on top of your battery/ mod).
A type of power output that is limited to a set temperature. Requires certain types of coils to use this feature.
Refers to the sensation of inhaling the nicotine when it hits your throat.
A type of device that has no safety features or adjustability. Works purely off the power of the external battery. For advanced users only.
To inhale vapour from an E-Cigarette. Also used to describe an E-Cigarette device.
A person who vapes.
Refers to a loss of taste. Generally happens when you vape the same E-Liquid flavour for too long & your taste buds get accustomed to the flavour.
The action of using an E-Cigarette.
One of the two commonly found base ingredients in an E-Liquid. A colourless, odourless but slightly sweet liquid. It helps provide the dense clouds of vapour. This liquid has been extensively tested for safety.
Refers to the electrical potential of the power source. On some device this is also an adjustable setting to increase or decrease the power.
Variable Voltage is a feature on certain E-Cigarette devices that allows you to increase & decrease the power output.
Variable Wattage is a feature on certain E-Cigarette devices that allows you to increase & decrease the power output.
The measurement for the power output of your device.
A small piece of material used to absorb your E-Liquid found within the coil.
A single revolution of your coil wire.
An E-Liquid solution that contains no nicotine.