Pedal or Peddle?

The Quick Answer
What is the difference between pedal and peddle?

Pedal is a noun referring to a lever pressed or activated by the foot.
Pedal is also a verb meaning to push pedals.

Peddle is a verb meaning to sell goods or to promote ideas.
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Pedal or Peddle

Writers are often unsure whether to use pedal or peddle.

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Pedal

As a noun, a pedal is a lever or treadle, usually pressed or turned by the foot, in a mechanism (e.g., bicycle, piano).
The verb to pedal refers to the act of turning pedals (usually with your feet).

Examples:
  • I couldn't pedal a bike as a child, so I had a donkey instead.
  • When Mr. Ludwig invented the bass-drum pedal, that's what made the drum set possible.

Peddle

The verb to peddle means to sell (goods, illegal items, stolen items) or to promote (ideas or views).
We often encounter to peddle in the context of the selling of illegal drugs or other illicit items.

Examples:
  • The group was arrested after trying to peddle guns.
    • (Here, to peddle means to sell.)
  • He criticized his fellow candidate for peddling risky ideas.
    • (Here, to peddle means to promote.)
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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose?
What are nouns? What are adjectives? List of easily confused words