Vend vs. Sell — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 21, 2024
Vend typically refers to selling goods through vending machines or in a market setting, whereas sell is a broader term encompassing all forms of transferring ownership of goods or services for money.
Difference Between Vend and Sell
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Vend generally implies selling goods through vending machines, stalls, or temporary stands. It often conveys a sense of direct, often automated, retailing in a specific location, like a street market or a vending machine. For example, "He vends snacks from a vending machine at the office." Sell, on the other hand, is a more general term used to describe the exchange of goods or services for money in any context. It can refer to various methods and settings, including retail stores, online platforms, personal transactions, and more. For example, "She sells handmade jewelry online."
In terms of their scope, vend is more specific and typically associated with certain methods of selling, like vending machines or small stalls. Sell covers a wide range of transactions, from complex business deals to everyday retail sales.
From a linguistic standpoint, vend is less commonly used in everyday language and is more niche, often found in specific industries or contexts. Sell is widely used across all forms of commerce and everyday speech.
Comparison Chart
Scope
Specific methods like vending machines or stalls
General term for exchanging goods or services for money
Common Context
Street markets, vending machines
Any commercial transaction
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Frequency of Use
Less common, more niche
Very common, widely used
Linguistic Nature
More specific and industry-related
Broad and general
Example Sentence
"He vends snacks from a machine."
"She sells handmade jewelry online."
Compare with Definitions
Vend
Offer items for sale in a market setting.
They vend fresh produce at the local farmer's market.
Sell
Exchange goods or services for money.
She sells her artwork at galleries and online.
Vend
Distribute goods through small, temporary stands.
She vends homemade crafts at the annual fair.
Sell
Offer something for purchase in any setting.
The store sells a wide variety of household items.
Vend
Engage in retail selling in a direct manner.
They vend souvenirs outside the stadium after games.
Sell
Make a product available for purchase.
They sell tickets for the concert at the box office.
Vend
Sell goods from a vending machine.
The company vends snacks and beverages in the lobby.
Sell
To exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
We sold our old car for a modest sum.
Vend
Provide items directly to consumers in specific locations.
Street vendors vend hot dogs to passersby.
Sell
To offer or have available for sale
The store sells health foods.
Vend
To offer for sale, especially by peddling.
Sell
To give up or surrender in exchange for a price or reward
Sell one's soul to the devil.
Vend
To supply (a product or service) to a business for a fee.
Sell
To be purchased in (a certain quantity); achieve sales of
A book that sold a million copies.
Vend
To engage in selling.
Sell
To bring about or encourage sales of; promote
Good publicity sold the product.
Vend
Synonym of sell, now especially to sell through a vending machine.
Sell
To cause to be accepted; advocate successfully
We sold the proposal to the school committee.
Vend
To provide or export functionality, especially from an API.
Sell
To persuade (another) to recognize the worth or desirability of something
They sold me on the idea.
Vend
The act of vending or selling; a sale.
Sell
To exchange ownership for money or its equivalent; engage in selling
Are any of the fruit vendors still selling?.
Vend
The total sales of coal from a colliery.
Sell
To be sold or be on sale
Grapes are selling high this season.
Vend
The letter Ꝩ/ꝩ, used in Old Norse, related to the rune wynn (ᚹ, whence also Latin-script Ƿ/ƿ) but with the bowl open at the top, like a y.
Sell
To attract prospective buyers; be popular on the market
An item that doesn't sell.
Vend
To transfer to another person for a pecuniary equivalent; to make an object of trade; to dispose of by sale; to sell; as, to vend goods; to vend vegetables.
Sell
To be approved of; gain acceptance
An idea that just wouldn't sell.
Vend
The act of vending or selling; a sale.
Sell
An act or instance of selling
Ordered a sell of his shares in the company.
Vend
The total sales of coal from a colliery.
Sell
Something that sells or gains acceptance in a particular way
Their program to raise taxes will be a difficult sell.
Vend
Sell or offer for sale from place to place
Sell
(Slang) A deception; a hoax.
Sell
To transfer goods or provide services in exchange for money.
I'll sell you three books for a hundred dollars.
Sorry, I'm not prepared to sell.
Sell
(ergative) To be sold.
This old stock will never sell.
The corn sold for a good price.
Sell
To promote a product or service.
Sell
To promote a particular viewpoint.
My boss is very old-fashioned and I'm having a lot of trouble selling the idea of working at home occasionally.
Sell
To betray for money or other things.
Sell
(slang) To trick, cheat, or manipulate someone.
Sell
To pretend that an opponent's blows or maneuvers are causing legitimate injury; to act.
Sell
To work as a prostitute.
Sell
An act of selling; sale.
Sell
The promotion of an idea for acceptance.
This is going to be a tough sell.
Sell
An easy task.
Sell
An imposition, a cheat; a hoax; a disappointment; anything occasioning a loss of pride or dignity.
Sell
(obsolete) A seat or stool.
Sell
(archaic) A saddle.
Sell
A rope (usually for tying up cattle, but can also mean any sort of rope).
He picked up the sell from the straw-strewn barn-floor, snelly sneaked up behind her and sleekly slung it around her swire while scryingː "dee, dee ye fooking quhoreǃ".
Sell
Self.
Sell
A sill.
Sell
A cell; a house.
Sell
A saddle for a horse.
He left his lofty steed with golden self.
Sell
A throne or lofty seat.
Sell
An imposition; a cheat; a hoax.
Sell
To transfer to another for an equivalent; to give up for a valuable consideration; to dispose of in return for something, especially for money. It is the correlative of buy.
If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.
I am changed; I'll go sell all my land.
Sell
To make a matter of bargain and sale of; to accept a price or reward for, as for a breach of duty, trust, or the like; to betray.
You would have sold your king to slaughter.
Sell
To impose upon; to trick; to deceive; to make a fool of; to cheat.
Sell
To practice selling commodities.
I will buy with you, sell with you; . . . but I will not eat with you.
Sell
To be sold; as, corn sells at a good price.
Sell
The activity of persuading someone to buy;
It was a hard sell
Sell
Exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent;
He sold his house in January
She sells her body to survive and support her drug habit
Sell
Be sold at a certain price or in a certain way;
These books sell like hot cakes
Sell
Do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood;
She deals in gold
The brothers sell shoes
Sell
Persuade somebody to accept something;
The French try to sell us their image as great lovers
Sell
Give up for a price or reward;
She sold her principles for a successful career
Sell
Deliver to an enemy by treachery;
Judas sold Jesus
The spy betrayed his country
Sell
Be approved of or gain acceptance;
The new idea sold well in certain circles
Sell
Be responsible for the sale of;
All her publicity sold the products
Sell
Persuade someone to buy something.
The salesman successfully sold the car to a new customer.
Sell
Transfer ownership of an item for payment.
He decided to sell his old laptop to a friend.
Common Curiosities
What does vend mean?
Vend means to sell goods, typically through vending machines or market stalls.
What does sell mean?
Sell means to exchange goods or services for money, encompassing all forms of sales.
Is vend commonly used in everyday language?
No, vend is less commonly used and more specific to certain industries.
Can sell be used for vending machine transactions?
Yes, sell can describe transactions involving vending machines and other methods.
Is vend specific to certain methods of selling?
Yes, vend often refers to selling through vending machines or in market settings.
Can vend be used in any selling context?
No, vend is usually used in specific contexts like vending machines or street markets.
Is sell a common term in everyday language?
Yes, sell is widely used across various contexts and industries.
Is sell a broader term than vend?
Yes, sell is a broad term that covers all types of commercial transactions.
Can a person vend services?
Typically, vend is used for goods, not services.
Does vend imply the use of a vending machine?
Often, yes, vend implies selling through a vending machine or similar setup.
Can vend refer to online sales?
Rarely, vend is not typically used to describe online sales.
Does sell require a specific method?
No, sell does not imply any specific method and can refer to various selling processes.
Can sell refer to online sales?
Yes, sell is commonly used for online transactions.
Can a person sell services?
Yes, selling services is a common use of the term sell.
Is vend more niche than sell?
Yes, vend is more niche and specific compared to the broad term sell.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
