broker

noun

bro·​ker ˈbrō-kər 

1

: one who acts as an intermediary: such as

a

: an agent who arranges marriages

b

: an agent who negotiates contracts of purchase and sale (as of real estate, commodities, or securities)

2

: power broker

3

: one who sells or distributes something

an information broker

broker verb

Synonyms

• buffer
• conciliator
• go-between
• honest broker
• interceder
• intercessor
• intermediary
• intermediate
• interposer
• mediator
• middleman
• peacemaker

Examples of broker in a Sentence

the broker in the hostage situation was a prominent reporter that the gunman felt he could trust

all of the local yacht brokers were at the boat show

Recent Examples on the Web

As a new member of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) club, the UAE is also positioning itself as a broker of global dealings in oil and gold and has a fierce rivalry with its neighbor Saudi Arabia to become the leading power in the Red Sea. —Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024

Wolf was previously a real estate broker in California. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024

Cunningham is also registered as a broker with PFS Investments, the securities division of Primerica, a multilevel-marketing company. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024

From there, the objects were sold to art brokers, private collectors and the world’s largest museums in what the country regards as the biggest art heist in history. —Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Longevity as a commercial real estate broker must start with an optimism for positive outcomes. —Allen Buchanan, Orange County Register, 2 Apr. 2024

There, the money is paid to brokers who facilitate evacuations. —TIME, 25 Mar. 2024

Why China would seek the names and addresses of British voters is a bit puzzling, especially since such information is readily available from data brokers. —Mark Landler, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024

That’s not so different from the online traders, mom-and-pop investors, small brokers and others who organized on social media platform Reddit to drive up the price of GameStop and face down hedge funds that were betting against the company and shorting the stock. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, negotiator, from Anglo-French brocour

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing broker

• honest broker
• insurance broker
• power broker

Kids Definition

broker

noun

bro·​ker ˈbrō-kər 

: a person who acts as an agent in the purchase and sale of property

Legal Definition

broker

noun

bro·​ker ˈbrō-kər 

: an agent who negotiates contracts of sale (as of real estate or securities) or other agreements (as insurance contracts or mortgages) between the parties for a fee or commission compare dealer, finder

Note: An insurance broker differs from an insurance agent in that a broker is usually considered an agent of the insured, even though he or she may receive a commission from an insurance company. A broker may sell the products of a number of insurers, and an insurer has no liability for a broker's wrongful actions. A securities broker often acts also as a dealer and so is often referred to as a broker-dealer.