pawnshop

noun

pawn·​shop ˈpȯn-ˌshäp How to pronounce pawnshop (audio)
ˈpän-
: a pawnbroker's shop

Examples of pawnshop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And to unload those, Harry has a close pal and longtime co-conspirator, the wily, wisecracking pawnshop owner Ben (Steve Buscemi). — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Oct. 2026 The building was home to several small businesses, including a nail salon, a grocery store, a meat shop and a pawnshop. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 In this cozy fantasy, a young woman inherits an enchanted Tokyo pawnshop that appears to most people as a simple ramen restaurant. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 23 May 2026 Each one of us is Franca curating a pawnshop of the mind. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pawnshop

Word History

Etymology

pawn entry 2 + shop entry 1

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pawnshop was in 1749

Rhymes for pawnshop

See All Rhymes for pawnshop

Browse Nearby Words

pawn roller
pawnshop
pawn ticket
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pawnshop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pawnshop. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pawnshop

noun
pawn·​shop ˈpȯn-ˌshäp How to pronounce pawnshop (audio)
ˈpän-
: a pawnbroker's shop

Legal Definition

pawnshop

noun
pawn·​shop
: a pawnbroker's shop
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