peddler

noun

ped·​dler ˈped-lər 

variants or less commonly pedlar

plural peddlers also pedlars

: someone who peddles: such as

a

: someone who offers merchandise (such as fresh produce) for sale along the street or from door to door

b

: someone who deals in or promotes something intangible (such as a personal asset or an idea)

influence peddlers

see also:

pedaler

Synonyms of peddler

• vendor
• seller
• merchant
• huckster
• hawker
• dealer

Examples of peddler in a Sentence

the peddler on the street corner selling baseball caps

Recent Examples on the Web

Her proximity to political commentator and conspiracy peddler Candace Owens, and her reluctance to distance herself from Owens’ escalating claims, has become a defining — and increasingly uncomfortable — feature of her brand. —Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026

In a matter of a few years this former peddler had opened a store upriver in Donaldsonville, first in his house and then in the town square, and was advertising goods for sale that came from as far away as Cincinnati and New York. —Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026

The front desk clerk exchanged passports for iron keys while also running a prostitute ring; peddlers roamed the premises hawking lacquer boxes and sports jerseys in garbled English. —Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026

Hanaway characterized the stores as deceptive drug peddlers. —Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for peddler

• pedlar