peddle

verb

ped·​dle ˈpe-dᵊl 

peddled; peddling ˈped-liŋ 

ˈpe-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to travel about with wares for sale

broadly : sell

peddling without a license

2

: to be busy with trifles : piddle

transitive verb

1

: to sell or offer for sale from place to place : hawk

broadly : sell

They peddled fruits and vegetables from a truck on the side of the road.

2

: to deal out or seek to disseminate

… peddling personal advice.

—G. F. Kennan

3

: to offer or promote as valuable

peddled snake oils and miracle lotions

Synonyms of peddle

• hawk
• distribute
• wholesale

Examples of peddle in a Sentence

They peddled fruits and vegetables out of their truck on the side of the road.

He peddled his idea for a new movie to every executive in Hollywood.

The mayor's aides tried to peddle his innocence to reporters.

Recent Examples on the Web

This data is being cherry picked by the Deportation Data Project to peddle a false narrative. —Laura Romero, ABC News, 12 June 2026

Cole spent February driving around the country for impromptu fan meets, peddling CDs from the trunk of his pre-stardom Honda Civic. —John Kennedy, VIBE.com, 9 June 2026

Fake profiles peddling impossible promises Leal has practiced as an immigration attorney for years in South Florida. —Albinson Linares, NBC news, 4 June 2026

Many of the migrants have turned to peddling as a way to survive. —Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from peddler, from Middle English pedlere, alteration of pedder peddler

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing peddle

• peddle one's wares

Rhymes for peddle

• bedell
• heddle
• medal
• meddle
• pedal
• wedel
• bipedal
• intermeddle

Kids Definition

peddle

verb

ped·​dle ˈped-ᵊl 

peddled; peddling -liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to travel about especially from house to house with goods for sale

2

: to sell from place to place usually in small quantities

3

: to present (something) in a manner that is intended to convince others of its value

peddled her opinion to her friends

peddler noun

also pedlar

ˈped-lər