vend

verb

ˈvend 

vended; vending; vends

transitive verb

1

a

: to sell especially as a hawker or peddler

b

: to sell by means of vending machines

2

: to utter publicly

intransitive verb

: to dispose of something by sale : sell

also : to engage in selling

Synonyms of vend

• sell

Examples of vend in a Sentence

vends snack foods and novelties at fairs

Recent Examples on the Web

Brittany Manny, founder of B Lasting, returned to vend at 816 Day for the second time after previously participating about four years ago when the festival was held at 18th & Vine. — Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026

Everyone’s spread out with a respective mountain of vending-machine snacks in front of them, each taking their own moment to stare down Oleksa, when Joe takes the floor. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2026

Vendors said enforcement sweeps that began earlier this year have threatened their livelihoods, with authorities confiscating vending equipment and, in some cases, destroying it. — Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

The complex also includes a community room, 14 quiet study rooms, lounge space and a vending-machine area. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Latin; French vendre "to sell," going back to Old French, going back to Latin vēndere, contraction of vēnum dare, literally, "to give for sale" — more at venial, date entry 2

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

vend

verb

ˈvend 

: to offer for sale (as in a vending machine) : sell

vender noun

Legal Definition

vend

intransitive verb

ˈvend 

: to dispose of something by sale : sell

also : to engage in selling

transitive verb

: to sell especially as a hawker or peddler