broker
noun
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Definition of broker
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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for broker
Synonyms
dealer, merchandiser, seller, vendor (also vender)
Antonyms
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Examples of broker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More recently, its brokers from Eastdil Secured resumed marketing it to potential buyers. — Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, "Former John Hancock Center is getting a new owner: Sterling Bay," 12 July 2018 More than one-third of its approximately 135 brokers have at least one red flag, according to the Journal’s analysis. — Coulter Jones, WSJ, "Regulators Step Up Scrutiny of Sales of Private Stakes," 2 July 2018 Let’s say your broker has been unable to contact you after multiple attempts. — Erin Arvedlund, Philly.com, "Philly Fed suggests adding a `trusted contact' to your bank, brokerage account," 16 June 2018 If your broker cannot completely or simply answer your question, seek advice from other professionals. — Lawrence A. Kellogg And Jason Kellogg, miamiherald, "Small businesses can prevent their 401(k) retirement plans from being overcharged | Miami Herald," 16 Mar. 2018 Still, as with previous open-enrollment periods, many consumers were frustrated with long wait times to reach a Covered California representative on the phone, and relied on their insurance brokers to answer questions and enroll in a plan. — Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, "Covered California enrollment dips just 2% after ‘repeal and replace’ drama," 7 Feb. 2018 No matter what the market looks like, sellers can’t afford to get too comfortable, said Alyssia Essig, associate broker for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty and president of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors. — Reema Amin, baltimoresun.com, "Housing indicators reflect strong seller's market in Baltimore region," 13 July 2018 Insurers and brokers, Fann said, should step in to make up for navigator funding. — Phil Galewitz, Washington Post, "Outrageous Or Overblown? HHS Announces Another Round Of ACA Navigator Funding Cuts," 12 July 2018 Trumark Urban, developers of the Pacific building in San Francisco with units up to $15.5 million, formed a broker advisory board of top-selling agents. — Amy Gamerman, WSJ, "Like Your Apartment’s Design? Thank Your Agent," 12 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'broker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for broker
broker
nounFinancial Definition of broker
What It Is
A broker is a person or a company that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers. Brokers exist not just in the financial markets, but in the real estate market, the commodities market, the art market -- even the boat market.
How It Works
Brokers are often paid a commission, which is a percentage of the customer's purchase or sale price, though some receive a flat fee per transaction or a mix of the two.
There are many types of brokers in the financial world. For example, a commodities broker specializes in trading commodities, a floor broker handles orders on the floor of a stock or commodities exchange and a full-service broker offers brokerage services and sells other financial products such as insurance, tax planning or research conducted by other members of the brokerage firm. A discount broker essentially executes trades on behalf of customers and does little else. Brokers are not the same as research analysts, who analyze and make recommendations about certain stocks.
In the financial world, brokers must have Series 7 and Series 63 licenses; other licenses are often required for specific types of brokers. For example, some brokers must also obtain a Series 3 license if they want to trade certain financial products such as futures and commodities. To obtain a Series 7 license, the applicant must pass the Series 7 exam (also called the Qualification Examination for General Securities Representative), which primarily covers the seven critical functions performed by registered representatives: seek business for the broker/dealer, evaluate customer needs and objectives, advise clients, manage customer accounts and account records, explain the securities markets and the factors that affect them, execute orders for clients and monitor client portfolios. The National Association of Securities Dealers administers the test.
Why It Matters
Brokers are some of the most important people in any market because they bring buyers and sellers together and thus create liquidity and efficiency in the market.
However, investors should remember that broker commissions eat into returns, so investors should shop for a broker that provides an appropriate level of service. For instance, the extra cost of a full-service broker may be worth it for people who don't have the knowledge or inclination to stay on top of complicated investing or financial planning. Likewise, new investors or those with complex portfolios might find more comfort in full-service brokers. Investors who hold their investments for a long time are usually less bothered by higher trading commissions because they don't trade that often.
Source: Investing Answers
broker
noun
English Language Learners Definition of broker
: a person who helps other people to reach agreements, to make deals, or to buy and sell property (such as stocks or houses)
See the full definition for broker in the English Language Learners Dictionary
broker
noun
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Kids Definition of broker
: a person who acts as an agent for others in the buying or selling of property
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broker
noun
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Legal Definition of broker
: 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.
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