This review article discribes the genesis and development of vulvar squamous precancerous lesions terminology and discusses the consensus of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, College of American Pathologists and the World Health Organization on the current terminology. The article describes the different types of vulvar squamous precancerous lesions, according to their etiology, incidence and malignant potential.