Definition

A person who sells religious books and literature, often traveling to different places to share these materials.

Example

The colporteur visited our town to distribute Bibles and other religious texts.

Conversation

Have you ever met a colporteur selling religious books in the park?

No, I haven't seen one around here before. What do they usually sell?

They often have a variety of devotional literature and Bibles.

That sounds interesting! I might check it out next time.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Colporteur is derived from the French word 'colporteur', which comes from 'colporter' (meaning to carry) and 'porter' (meaning to carry or bear). The term originally referred to a person who carries goods, especially books, to sell them door-to-door.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'carries' ('porter') items to sell them, which helps you remember that a colporteur is a person who sells goods by going from place to place.

Visually Confused Words