vendors

USAGE SUMMARY

'vendors' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to people, businesses, or other entities who offer goods and/or services for sale. For example, "The street fair was filled with vendors selling homemade jewelry, artwork, and other wares."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So, basically, they are trusting the vendors," he said.

The Guardian - Tech

The IFC claims the project is a success story because it has provided an extra 1.7 million people with clean water, reduced diarrhoea cases by 51%, and offered customers significant savings: 20 times less than per-cubic-metre rates previously charged by water vendors.

The Guardian

Shops and street vendors lost everything as the water covered their goods.

The Guardian

Dan Dan noodles – her favourite – "were originally made by Chengdu street vendors who carried their gear around in a basket or barrel slung from either end of a bamboo shoulder pole, or 'dan' in Mandarin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The new act identifies this as a designated area for street vendors, and allocates space for them to carry out their business in a peaceful and less cramped manner.

The Guardian

New York City had enthralled, intimidated and deafened us with its roar of taxis and hollering vendors.

The Guardian - Music

Müller thinks it means trouble: "the total cost of patent royalties that vendors will have to cough up per unit of an Android-based device will likely become substantial and could result in a cost disadvantage for Android as compared to Windows Phone, for which Microsoft provides a patent guarantee that gives vendors peace of mind and predictable licensing costs".

The Guardian - Tech

"The Apple Watch raises the profile of wearables in general and there are many vendors and devices that are eager to share the spotlight," Llamas wrote last month.

The Guardian - Tech

From here, you'll head to Paradise Square, a Grade II listed cobbled Georgian square built in the late 18th century, and once known as Pot Square because of the crockery vendors who sold their wares here.

The Guardian - Travel

Vendors who have been sitting on their hands because of election uncertainty are not yet making the decision to sell up," said Wells.

The Guardian - Business

"Some vendors won't sell it to you if they know you are a security company," he said, without pointing the finger at any specific firms.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a group of "vendors", be specific about the type of goods or services they provide to enhance clarity. For example, use "software vendors" instead of just "vendors".

Common error

Avoid using "vendors" as a catch-all term without specifying the industry or context. This can lead to ambiguity and weaken your writing. Be precise about who the "vendors" are and what they offer.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "vendors" is as a plural noun. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, referring to multiple entities that supply goods or services. Ludwig examples show it in contexts relating to business, technology, and urban environments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "vendors" is a grammatically correct and very common plural noun used to describe entities that supply goods or services. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, business, and technology sectors. When using "vendors", it's best to specify the type of goods or services they provide to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include ""suppliers"", "sellers", and "providers", each with slight differences in nuance. While the term is generally neutral, tailoring your word choice to the specific context will enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suppliers

Broader term encompassing all entities providing resources, not limited to direct sales.

sellers

Focuses specifically on the act of selling, emphasizing the exchange aspect.

providers

Emphasizes the act of providing, often used for services rather than physical goods.

dealers

Implies a more formal or authorized relationship, often in specific industries like automobiles.

merchants

A more traditional term, suggesting a historical or retail context.

retailers

Focuses specifically on businesses that sell directly to consumers.

distributors

Highlights the role of distributing goods from manufacturers to retailers.

contractors

Refers to entities that provide specific services under contract.

purveyors

A more formal and sometimes archaic term for suppliers, often of luxury goods.

tradespeople

Focuses on individuals or small businesses offering skilled services.

FAQs

How do I use "vendors" in a sentence?

You can use "vendors" to refer to businesses or individuals that supply goods or services. For example, "The technology company relies on multiple software "suppliers" to maintain its infrastructure."

What's a good alternative to the word "vendors"?

Depending on the context, you could use words like ""suppliers"", "sellers", or "providers" as alternatives to "vendors".

Is there a difference between "vendors" and "suppliers"?

While often used interchangeably, "vendors" typically refers to those selling directly to consumers or businesses, while ""suppliers"" can encompass a broader range of entities providing resources in a supply chain.

When should I use "vendors" instead of "providers"?

"Vendors" is appropriate when referring to those who sell goods, while "providers" is better suited for entities offering services. For example, "food vendors" versus "internet service providers".