Can someone still be a vegan if they eat meat?

I was having a convo with my friend’s boyfriend. He claims that he is a vegan even though he eats meat because veganism is a philosophy, and it’s a philosophy that he aligns with.

He said that it’s like being a Christian — just because Christians sin all the time it doesn’t mean they’re not Christian.

I said ‘sure but every time you say you are a vegan who eats meat you are telling everyone you are an immoral person’ (I didn’t say this as a counter btw, just a side comment).
He said he’s fine with that.

To be honest he made some pretty good points, especially since vegans constantly reiterate that veganism isn’t a diet, it’s a moral standpoint. However I still feel like he’s being intentionally misleading by saying he is a vegan because he doesn’t follow the vegan diet.

Morally I didn’t really have any arguments though. Is there anything I’m missing?

Was he right?