WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFT AND ELEVATOR?

From the very start, people have used the term ‘lift’ and ‘elevator’ as synonyms, however, it has an exciting past that we need to discuss. As per Cambridge English Dictionary, a lift is a noun and its definition says that it’s a device that looks like a box and carries goods and people from one floor to another. But when it comes to Canada and America, the term ‘elevator’ is used. There is definitely a difference between the terms ‘lifts’ and ‘elevator’, which is rooted in their design, origin, usage, and technology. So, let’s get into details and understand the real difference between the two.

Terminology and Preferences

The immediate difference that comes between lifts and elevators is because of its terminology. The word ‘elevator’ is being used in the United States along with the other parts of the world, whereas the term ‘lift’ is being used in the United Kingdom. This is happening due to regional language preferences, even when both the terms talk about the similar machine. Talking about the preference, people prefer to go for elevators in commercial buildings, and opt to install lifts in hotels, homes, and restaurants because according to them elevators are easy and comfortable to move, while lifts have minimal space and can only carry 2 to 3 people at a time. So, in summary, as per terminology, it can be concluded that lift is a preferred term in UK English, and elevator is a preferred one in the U.S. and other countries.