vending machine

noun

: a coin-operated machine for selling merchandise

Examples of vending machine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The novelty vending machines mold souvenir sculptures — a train car, a gorilla, a bust of Abraham Lincoln — in under a minute, filling a two-sided mold with hot plastic, then hollowing it out with compressed air. Juliet Bennett Rylah, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 While vending machines elsewhere now dispense everything from oysters to high-end jewelry, the subway selection thus far could not be more standard — they’re stocked with your usual assortment of chips, candy, cookies, soda, and water. Anne Kadet, Curbed, 7 Aug. 2026 Remember to pack snacks and drinks, since there are no concessions on board aside from a single vending machine dispensing soda and water. Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026 IJooz, the company operating the juice vending machine, filed a police report over the stunt and sanitized the dispenser while replacing all 500 straws in the machine. CNN Money, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for vending machine

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vending machine was circa 1895

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vending machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vending%20machine. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

vending machine

noun
: a machine from which one may get merchandise after putting in coins

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