peddler

/ˈpɛdlə/

//ˈpɛdlə// noun

"peddler" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“peddler” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #46,684 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#46,684
frequency rank, English
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An itinerant seller of small goods.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

peddler vs puddle
71% similar
peddler vs paddle
71% similar
peddler vs peddle
86% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for peddler
PropertyValue
Headwordpeddler
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɛdlə/
Letters7
Frequency rank#46,684
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “peddler” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). peddler lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for peddler is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɛdlə/. Corpus data places it at rank #46,684 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for peddler, with forms such as "epddler", "pdedler", and "peddelr". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "puddle", "paddle", "peddle", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English pedlere, pedlare, pedeler, alteration of Middle English peddere (“hawker, peddler”), of uncertain origin. Compare Medieval Latin pedārius, from Latin pedāre (“to furnish with feet; prop up”). The correct English form is peddler, spelled P-E-D-D-L-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    An itinerant seller of small goods.
  2. 2
    A drug dealer.
  3. 3
    A fake-news disseminator; A conspiracy-theory propagator.

Etymology

From Middle English pedlere, pedlare, pedeler, alteration of Middle English peddere (“hawker, peddler”), of uncertain origin. Compare Medieval Latin pedārius, from Latin pedāre (“to furnish with feet; prop up”).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: epddler,pdedler,peddelr,peddlerr,peddller,peddlre,pedlder,pedler,ppeddler

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of peddler - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

epddler2pdedler2peddelr2peddlerr1peddller1peddlre2pedlder2pedler1
Edit distance from "peddler"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "peddler"?
"peddler" is spelled P-E-D-D-L-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɛdlə/.
What does "peddler" mean?
As a noun, "peddler" means: An itinerant seller of small goods.
What words are commonly confused with "peddler"?
"peddler" is commonly confused with "puddle", "paddle", "peddle". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "peddler"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "peddler" is /ˈpɛdlə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "peddler"?
From Middle English pedlere, pedlare, pedeler, alteration of Middle English peddere (“hawker, peddler”), of uncertain origin. Compare Medieval Latin pedārius, from Latin pedāre (“to furnish with feet; prop up”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “peddler”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-D-D-L-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɛdlə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “puddle” - see the side-by-side comparison. peddler vs puddle
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list