pedlar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, historical, or somewhat archaic; occasionally used in modern contexts for stylistic effect or to evoke a past era.
Quick answer
What does “pedlar” mean?
A person who travels from place to place selling small goods, often carried in a pack.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who travels from place to place selling small goods, often carried in a pack; an itinerant trader.
A person who sells or promotes something (often ideas, gossip, or illicit goods) in a persistent or intrusive way; a hawker of ideas or wares.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'pedlar' is the traditional and still most common form in UK English, especially for the historical occupation. The spelling 'peddler' is also found in the UK, but more often for the extended meaning (e.g., drug peddler). 'Peddler' is the standard spelling in US English for all meanings.
Connotations
In both varieties, the historical sense is slightly archaic. In modern US usage, 'peddler' is more readily used in extended, often negative contexts (e.g., 'peddler of conspiracy theories').
Frequency
More frequent in historical texts and set phrases. In everyday speech, 'market trader', 'street vendor', or simply 'seller' are more common for the literal meaning.
Grammar
How to Use “pedlar” in a Sentence
Pedlar of [something (goods, lies, dreams)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pedlar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tried to pedlar his wares from door to door.
- (Note: The verb form is 'peddle'. 'Pedlar' is only a noun.)
American English
- (The verb form is 'peddle'. 'Peddler' is only a noun.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'pedlar'. The verb 'peddle' can form the adverb 'peddlingly', but it is extremely rare.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'peddler'.)
adjective
British English
- The pedlar lifestyle was one of constant travel.
- He had a pedlar's licence from the magistrate.
American English
- The peddler lifestyle was one of constant travel.
- He had a peddler's permit from the city.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Obsolete; used only in historical business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing pre-industrial economies.
Everyday
Very rare; might be used for historical reenactment, storytelling, or metaphorically.
Technical
Not applicable in modern technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pedlar”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pedlar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pedlar”
- Misspelling as 'peddlar' or 'pedler'.
- Using it in a contemporary commercial context where 'vendor' or 'sales rep' would be more appropriate.
- Pronouncing it with a long 'e' (as in 'pedal') – it's /ˈpɛdlər/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A pedlar is itinerant and travels to sell goods, while a shopkeeper operates from a fixed location.
Not inherently, but it can be used pejoratively in extended meanings (e.g., 'pedlar of gossip'). Historically, it was a neutral occupational term, though often for low-status traders.
No, it is not incorrect, but 'pedlar' is the traditional and more common UK spelling for the historical trader. 'Peddler' is often used for modern negative metaphors (e.g., 'drug peddler').
Typically, no. The core meaning involves physical goods. However, metaphorically, it can be extended to someone persistently promoting intangible things like ideas or rumours.
A person who travels from place to place selling small goods, often carried in a pack.
Pedlar is usually literary, historical, or somewhat archaic; occasionally used in modern contexts for stylistic effect or to evoke a past era. in register.
Pedlar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɛdlə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɛdlər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pedlar's French (archaic: thieves' cant or jargon)”
- “To lead a pedlar's life (to live an itinerant life)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PEDdler who PEDals his goods by foot (from the old word for foot traffic).
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS COMMERCE / IDEAS ARE COMMODITIES (e.g., 'a pedlar of populist rhetoric').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate modern equivalent of a historical 'pedlar'?