If you rock up to PTC and do one of their Novice comps.... are you a powerlifter?
what if you do 5 of them?
It's not a fed... the rules are the same, but you can't set records for anything..
it's just a gym comp.
What if you do 5 novice gym comps, and someone joins PA/GPC/CAPO and does one comp?
who if either is a powerlifter?
If you train at home or at a gym and all you do is sq/b/dl, you are not a powerlifter... you are just a lazy weight trainer (this is me)
If you actively compete in the "sport" of powerlifting be it in a fed or local gym comp, my opinion is that you can be labelled as a powerlifter.
If you train with the local footy team, you are not a footy player unless you compete with them on the weekend.
If you lift weights and eat well and do a seasonal bulk then cut etc, you are not a bodybuilder... even though your passion/hobby is to "build your body"..
the term bodybuilder, just like the term powerlifter or weightlifter is/should be, for those who participate in actual competition in the chosen area.
everything else means you are basically a "weight trainer" or something along those lines.