What Is the Legal Definition of a Vendor?

What is the legal definition of a vendor? The legal definition of a vendor is a person or company who holds the title to a something (most often real property) and who legally offers that good or service for sale to another person or company who is then considered to be the vendee. In other words, the legal definition of a vendor is just a fancy way of saying that the vendor is someone who sells something to others. It is usually, but not necessarily always, used to describe people who are selling property (like a tract of land or a house) instead of someone who is selling personal property (like a car or a refrigerator)

According to Webster's New World Law Dictionary, the legal definition of a vendor is: "The person selling, especially in the case of real property. The term seller is more frequently used when referring to transactions involving personal property."

• Sometimes, a vendor of goods must be legally licensed to sell certain items, such as in the case of regulated securities or automobiles (which require a specific dealer license to sell commercially in most jurisdictions).
• There are also requirements for "vendors" of things like firearms, alcohol, tobacco, and other regulated goods such as pharmaceuticals and explosives that are not allowed to be sold by just anyone.

Some states also impose rules on the quality of goods sold by certain vendors. For example, implied warranty laws may apply to mandate that a good must be fit for the particular purpose it is sold for. Strict liability laws can also make vendors subject to liability for the sale of defective products in the event that someone has been injured.