It is easier to say and shorter to write. Both terms are correct though.
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A Cylinder
A cylinder has to parallel bases (circles) therefore a cylinder is circular prism
A cylinder has a circular cross section, a rectangular prism has a rectangular cross section.
The bases of cylinders are circular whereas the bases of prisms are polygons.
Both, a cylinder and a prism have two faces (bases) at either end. These are parallel and identical. A plane that is parallel to these bases will cut the cylinder (or prism) in identical cross sections.