colporteur: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, historical, literary
Quick answer
What does “colporteur” mean?
a person who travels from place to place selling religious books, pamphlets, or similar small items.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a person who travels from place to place selling religious books, pamphlets, or similar small items.
Historically, a peddler or hawker, especially one of religious or devotional literature. In a modern metaphorical sense, it can refer to someone who spreads ideas, doctrines, or propaganda zealously from place to place.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally rare in both varieties. No significant usage difference exists.
Connotations
Same historical/literary connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both; more likely encountered in historical texts or as a deliberate stylistic choice.
Grammar
How to Use “colporteur” in a Sentence
[colporteur] + [of + (religious texts/ideas)][act/serve/work] + [as a colporteur]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colporteur” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He colportured religious tracts through the villages of Wales.
American English
- She colportured revolutionary pamphlets across the colonies.
adverb
British English
- He travelled colporteurially, with his bag of books.
American English
- The doctrine was spread colporteurially across the frontier.
adjective
British English
- The colporteurial mission was vital to the sect's growth.
American English
- They adopted a colporteur strategy to spread their manifesto.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious, or literary studies when discussing the dissemination of texts.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely.
Technical
No technical usage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colporteur”
- Misspelling as 'colporter' or 'coalporteur'.
- Using it to refer to any modern door-to-door salesperson without historical/figurative intent.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the second syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. The role might exist in very specific religious contexts, but the word itself is rarely used in modern descriptions.
A colporteur specifically implies the sale of books, pamphlets, or tracts, often with a religious or ideological purpose, whereas a peddler could sell any variety of goods.
Yes, it can be used figuratively to describe someone who zealously spreads ideas, doctrines, or propaganda from person to person or group to group.
It comes from French, from 'colporter', meaning 'to peddle', itself from 'col' (neck) and 'porter' (to carry), referring to carrying one's wares around the neck.
a person who travels from place to place selling religious books, pamphlets, or similar small items.
Colporteur is usually formal, historical, literary in register.
Colporteur: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒl.pɔːˌtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːl.pɔːrˌtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common use”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COLLect and transPORT' ideas or books from door to door.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COLPORTEUR is a VEHICLE FOR IDEAS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a colporteur?