Demon vs. Vampire — What's the Difference?

An attendant power or spirit.

An undead being that feeds on the blood of the living.

A forceful, fierce, or skillful person.

A person who preys on others.

A tormentor or agent of destruction.

A symbol of eternal life and human predation.

A demon is a supernatural being, typically associated with evil, prevalent historically in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, anime, and television series. In Ancient Near Eastern religions and in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered a harmful spiritual entity which may cause demonic possession, calling for an exorcism.

A mythological creature with an aversion to sunlight.

An evil supernatural being; a devil.

A charismatic but malevolent figure.

A persistently tormenting person, force, or passion

A vampire is a creature from folklore that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighbourhoods they inhabited while they were alive.

One who is extremely zealous, skillful, or diligent

In popular folklore, an undead being in human form that survives by sucking the blood of living people, especially at night.

Variant of daimon.

A person, such as an extortionist, who takes advantage of others, especially for personal gain.

An evil supernatural spirit.

A vampire bat.

An evil spirit resident in or working for Hell; a devil.

A mythological undead creature said to feed on the blood of the living.

A false god or idol; a Satanic divinity.

(colloquial) A person with the medical condition systemic lupus erythematosus, colloquially known as vampirism, with effects such as photosensitivity and brownish-red stained teeth.

A very wicked or malevolent person; also in weakened sense a mischievous person, especially a child.

A blood-sucking bat; vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus)

A source (especially personified) of great evil or wickedness; a destructive feeling or character flaw.

A person who drains one's time, energy, money, etc.

(in plural) A person's fears or anxieties.

(dated) A vamp: a seductive woman who exploits men.

A neutral supernatural spirit.

A medical technician who works with patients' blood.

A person's inner spirit or genius; a guiding or creative impulse.

Synonym of anti-ship missile(ASM), particularly an incoming hostile one.

(Greek mythology) A tutelary deity or spirit intermediate between the major Olympian gods and mankind, especially a deified hero or the entity which supposedly guided Socrates, telling him what not to do.

To drain of energy or resources.

A spirit not considered to be inherently evil; a (non-Christian) deity or supernatural being.

A blood-sucking ghost; a soul of a dead person superstitiously believed to come from the grave and wander about by night sucking the blood of persons asleep, thus causing their death. This superstition was once prevalent in parts of Eastern Europe, and was especially current in Hungary about the year 1730. The vampire was often said to have the ability to transform itself into the form of a bat, as presented in the novel depicting the legend of Dracula published by Bram Stoker in 1897, which has inspired several movies.

A hypothetical entity with special abilities postulated for the sake of a thought experiment in philosophy or physics.

Fig.: One who lives by preying on others; an extortioner; a bloodsucker.

Someone with great strength, passion or skill for a particular activity, pursuit etc.; an enthusiast.

Either one of two or more species of South American blood-sucking bats belonging to the genera Desmodus and Diphylla; also called vampire bat. These bats are destitute of molar teeth, but have strong, sharp cutting incisors with which they make punctured wounds from which they suck the blood of horses, cattle, and other animals, as well as man, chiefly during sleep. They have a cæcal appendage to the stomach, in which the blood with which they gorge themselves is stored.

(card games) A type of patience or solitaire (card game) played in the UK and/or US.

Any one of several species of harmless tropical American bats of the genus Vampyrus, especially Vampyrus spectrum. These bats feed upon insects and fruit, but were formerly erroneously supposed to suck the blood of man and animals. Called also false vampire.

Any of various hesperiid butterflies of the genera Notocrypta and Udaspes.

(folklore) a corpse that rises at night to drink the blood of the living

A spirit, or immaterial being, holding a middle place between men and deities in pagan mythology.

One's genius; a tutelary spirit or internal voice; as, the demon of Socrates.

An evil spirit; a devil.

One of the evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian belief

A cruel wicked and inhuman person

Someone extremely diligent or skillful;

A malevolent supernatural entity.

A person with an evil nature.

Many stories and myths suggest demons can assume human form to deceive or tempt people.

While traditionally portrayed as malevolent, some cultures and stories depict neutral or even benevolent demons.

Folklore often cites garlic, holy water, and crucifixes as ways to repel or harm vampires.

Yes, many cultures have stories of demons possessing humans, leading to malevolent actions or exorcism rituals.

While often rooted in religious texts, demons also appear in secular folklore and popular culture.

Many myths and stories attribute immortality to vampires, but they may have vulnerabilities.

Traditionally, being bitten by a vampire can turn the victim into one.

Some folklore says vampires can turn into bats, wolves, or mist, but this varies by the tale.

Traditional myths say vampires are harmed or destroyed by sunlight, but some modern adaptations deviate from this.

Some religious and mythological systems describe hierarchies of demons with varying powers and roles.

While many cultures have demon-like entities, their characteristics, roles, and names can vary widely.

Both are rooted in myths, legends, and popular culture. While many believe in their spiritual or symbolic significance, there's no scientific evidence of their existence.

Folklore and religious rituals often include rites or incantations to banish or bind demons.

While traditionally depicted as predators, modern stories often portray vampires with more complex, sometimes sympathetic, personalities.

The bat's name comes from its blood-feeding habits, which reminded people of the vampire legend, but it's not the origin of the myth.