broker

noun

bro·ker | \ ˈbrō-kər

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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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

When the overall market slows, large homes on the biggest lots are the toughest to sell, says Andra O’Neill, a real-estate broker with At Properties in Lake Forest. — Alina Dizik, WSJ, "What’s It Take to Sell a Home on Chicago’s Lake Michigan? Patience," 21 Feb. 2019 In March, McFarland, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud related to defrauding investors and a ticket broker with Fyre Festival. — Sarah Gray, Fortune, "2 Fyre Festival Attendees Awarded $5 Million in Lawsuit Against Co-Founder," 3 July 2018 That’s according to an analysis done by Christina Ezzo, a 22-year veteran real estate broker with Re/Max. — Griffin Jackson, chicagotribune.com, "The most diverse street in America? Find color, culture, connectedness on Devon Avenue," 28 June 2018 John Tronson, a property broker with Avison Young, said the blocks around Sunset and Vine and Sunset and Cahuenga Boulevard are most in favor. — Roger Vincent, latimes.com, "$450-million office, housing and retail complex underway on Vine in Hollywood," 20 June 2018 Paige Martin, a broker with Keller Williams Memorial, said there are about 15 new construction buildings that are actively selling. — Valerie Sweeten, Houston Chronicle, "On the Market/Condo Life: New projects bring more condo options," 17 June 2018 The broker eventually asked Lundgren to personally purchase them instead — only for Lundgren to discover the sale was part of a government sting operation. — Colin Lecher, The Verge, "E-waste guru going to prison says Microsoft targeting refurbishers is ‘harmful to society’," 27 Apr. 2018 Interested buyers can contact Mary Kent, a broker at Sotheby’s International Realty. — Maya Mcdowell, House Beautiful, "The 1920s New York Mansion of the Vanderbilts Is for Sale," 2 Feb. 2019 The Transbay district’s influx of new housing, with 4,400 new homes anticipated along with new office towers, will help drive demand for services like gyms, said Jeff Badstubner, a retail broker at JLL. — Roland Li, SFChronicle.com, "Philz Coffee, gym could open in new SF transit center," 9 July 2018

These 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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Dictionary Entries near broker

broker's price opinion

brokerage

Statistics for broker

Last Updated

16 May 2019

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The first known use of broker was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for broker

broker

noun

Financial 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

bro·ker | \ ˈbrō-kər

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

bro·ker | \ ˈbrō-kər

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.