vending machine

noun

: a coin-operated machine for selling merchandise

Examples of vending machine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ashley wants a red Gatorade, but when Austin gets to the vending machine, there are only yellows — her least-favorite flavor — except for one red, behind a yellow. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 Kiefer Lee is the owner of Long Story Books, an independent bookstore and café opening in Atlanta’s Inman Park later this summer—and the brains behind a book vending machine designed to make discovering a good read as easy and joyful as pressing a button. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026 Hawkins took cover behind a vending machine to clear the malfunction and stepped back out, pointing the gun at another student. Melina Khan, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Yet Luna is a very different boss than Anthropic’s vending machine CEO bot, affectionately named Seymour Cash. David Ingram, NBC news, 11 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

vending machine

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

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