The words pilgrims and puritans are sometimes used interchangeably. are they the same?

Answer: No

The words pilgrims and puritans are sometimes used interchangeably but they are not the same.

Puritans and Pilgrims both fled to America away from the Church of England. They are loyal to England and believed that the Church of England was one true church but they differ in the way they worship.

Pilgrims called Separatists were poor and fewer in number than the Puritans (called non-separating Congregationalists)

The Pilgrims strongly believed that the Church of England, and the Catholic Church, had went against the teachings of the Bible thus they break away and form independent congregations that follow strictly the divine requirements.

The Puritans believed that God expected them to live according to Christ's teachings. They attempted to reform the Anglican Church but they had not been successful thus they began to look for a new home in the colonies and there practice their religious beliefs.