pawnbroker

noun pawn·bro·ker \ ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər , ˈpän- \

Updated on: 1 Apr 2018

Definition of pawnbroker

: one who lends money in exchange for personal property that can be sold if the loan is not repaid by a certain time

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pawnbroking

play \ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kiŋ, ˈpän-\ noun

See pawnbroker defined for English-language learners

See pawnbroker defined for kids

Examples of pawnbroker in a Sentence

He was desperate for money so he hocked his watch to a pawnbroker.

Recent Examples of pawnbroker from the Web

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms listed 56,754 federally licensed firearms dealers in 2016, as well as 8,076 pawnbrokers allowed to sell guns.

— nathan bomey, USA TODAY, "Could Dick's Sporting Goods ban on assault-style rifles change sales?," 28 Feb. 2018
Image Among the Caribbean grocery stalls selling mango and plantain, pawnbroker shops and acrylic nail salons of Peckham, beats the heart of London’s most dynamic art scene.

— New York Times, "The Beating Heart of London’s Most Dynamic Art Scene," 8 Feb. 2018
The groom, also 31, is an owner of GC Pawn, a pawnbroker based in Fort Lauderdale.

— vincent m. mallozzi, New York Times, "Sealed With a Prediction (and the Kisses to Come)," 21 Oct. 2017
Such schemes have inspired investors in England to purchase vacant properties in Cleveland over eBay, and a Colorado pawnbroker to close on homes in Buffalo via PayPal.

— rachel monroe, New Republic, "Gone Baby Gone," 19 Sep. 2017
The legislation generated controversy, as several pawnbrokers in the county testified at a public hearing that they already are required to keep meticulous transaction records.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford executive seeks legal opinion on pawnbroker regulation bill," 17 May 2017
The dining area is utilitarian: Seats along the window look across the street at a pawnbroker’s, and a few tables are squeezed up front and along the wall.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "Caffé Lanka, an Outpost of Island Cooking in the Bronx," 11 May 2017
Some of the half-dozen or so pawnbrokers in Harford County do many of the things that would be required under the new legislation.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Harford council urged to pass more stringent pawnshop regulations, others say it's 'over-reaching'," 3 May 2017
Fulford was wanted on felony warrants for failure to appear on a drug case, firearms charges and providing false information to a pawnbroker.

— the reporter herald, The Denver Post, "Family hurt in crazy Larimer County police chase that involved shot taxi driver, possible bombs, road spikes," 31 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pawnbroker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of pawnbroker

1658

PAWNBROKER Defined for English Language Learners

pawnbroker

noun

Definition of pawnbroker for English Language Learners

: a person who lends money to people in exchange for personal property that can be sold if the money is not returned within a certain time

PAWNBROKER Defined for Kids

pawnbroker

noun pawn·bro·ker \ ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər \

Definition of pawnbroker for Students

: a person who lends money in exchange for personal property that can be sold if the money is not repaid

Law Dictionary

pawnbroker

noun pawn·bro·ker \ ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər \

legal Definition of pawnbroker

: a person who lends money on the security of personal or movable property pledged in his or her keeping or who buys personal property and gives the seller an opportunity to buy back the property