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vendor
/ˈvɛn.dɔɹ/
seller or supplier of goods
The vendor at the market sold fresh fruits and vegetables.
A person or business selling products directly to customers.
formal
A person or company that sells goods or services.
The software vendor provided excellent customer support.
A company selling software products.
Street vendors in the city sell everything from snacks to souvenirs.
Individuals selling items in public spaces.
Often used in business contexts to describe a seller of products or services.
Law
technical
In law, a person who transfers property by sale.
The vendor transferred ownership of the land to the buyer.
The seller in a property transaction.
Used in legal documents to specify the seller's role in a contract.
Collocations
street vendora person selling goods in public spaces like streets or marketssoftware vendora company that sells software productsvendor agreementa contract between a buyer and a seller outlining terms of sale
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'vendor' vs. 'supplier'
While both words refer to sellers, 'vendor' often implies a direct sale to consumers (B2C), whereas 'supplier' typically refers to a business selling to other businesses (B2B).
Gold Rule
Use 'vendor' for direct sales
Use 'vendor' when referring to a seller who deals directly with customers, such as in markets or retail settings.
Word Origin
From Old French 'vendeor' (seller), from Latin 'vendere' (to sell), from 'venum' (sale) + 'dare' (to give). The term entered English in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
The word 'vendor' is commonly used in business, law, and technology contexts. It emphasizes the role of the seller rather than the buyer. In some regions, 'vendor' may specifically refer to a company or individual selling goods directly to consumers, while 'supplier' may imply a business-to-business relationship.
Word Breakdown
vend-
to sell
root-or
a person or thing that performs an action
suffixEnglish Dictionary