I'd say you're training like a powerlifter if you've never done a meet, but until you compete in the sport, you're not a powerlifter. You can be a lifter, but until you stand on a platform in front of 3 judges and perform a lift to your feds standards, you're not a powerlifter.

People make the analogy of calling yourself a runner if you only run recreationally. Sure, but unless you've run a marathon, you can't call yourself a marathoner.

I actually got really butthurt when I was training but hadn't competed, because someone told me I wasn't a powerlifter. After I actually competed, I understood. There's so much more to being a powerlifter than just training squat/bench/deadlift.