A dealer is a person or business that buys and sells things, or the person who hands out the cards in a card game.
It comes from the verb “deal,” from Old English “dælan,” meaning “to divide, share, or distribute.” Over time, “dealer” became the person who distributes goods or cards.
“Dealer” originally just meant someone who divides or shares things out. Whether it’s cars, art, or cards at a casino, the core idea is always the same: they control what gets handed to whom.
In some domains (e.g., car sales, gambling), 'dealer' historically conjured a male default due to male-dominated professions and advertising imagery. Over time, women entered these roles but were often labeled separately (e.g., 'salesgirl', 'hostess') rather than with the neutral 'dealer'.
Use 'dealer' neutrally for anyone in that role, and avoid adding gendered qualifiers unless directly relevant and requested by the person. In narratives, do not assume a dealer’s gender without evidence.
["salesperson","representative","vendor"]
Women have long worked as card dealers, car sales professionals, and vendors, though their presence was underrepresented in media and job titles; using neutral terms helps reflect their contributions accurately.
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