US: "Sausage" is an all encompassing term. We don't usually use "banger." If we do, we're talking about a specific kind of sausage made (and served) in the British style. We'll also use "linguiça" for Portuguese style sausages and other words for other styles of sausage.

From a UK perspective i didn't think there was any difference. One of our traditional meals is "bangers and mash" - sausages and mashed potato.

Thanks guys!!

Alex is correct. "Banger" is a British word. Also, in the US, we consider "hot dogs" as something different from sausages, even though it is the same basic idea. And sometimes we use the German word "bratwurst" or "brats" to mean a specific kind of sausage.

exactly, as Paul says, in the US we don't use the word banger. We only use the word sausage.