pawnbroker

noun

pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
ˈpän-
: one who lends money in exchange for personal property that can be sold if the loan is not repaid by a certain time
pawnbroking noun

Examples of pawnbroker in a Sentence

He was desperate for money so he hocked his watch to a pawnbroker.
Recent Examples on the Web Using the history of antisemitism against Jewish pawnbrokers (one of the few professions permitted to them in the 19th century), Grossman crafts a gripping tale of a woman who has swallowed the prejudices of society as surely as a poisonous potion. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 May 2024 The two founded a record company of their own, Vee Jay Records, using $500 borrowed from a pawnbroker. The Indianapolis Star, 13 Aug. 2016 Gun sellers in this story were based on license categories 1, 2 and 9 from the ATF, which includes dealers in firearms other than destructive devices, including gunsmiths; pawnbrokers that sell firearms other than destructive devices; and dealers of destructive devices. Ramsey Archibald | Rarchibald@al.com, al, 10 July 2023 Because of these limits, banks kept interest rates between 6 and 12 percent and didn’t do much business with the poor, who in a pinch took their valuables to the pawnbroker or the loan shark. Matthew Desmond, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for pawnbroker 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pawnbroker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pawnbroker was in 1658

Dictionary Entries Near pawnbroker

Cite this Entry

“Pawnbroker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pawnbroker. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

pawnbroker

noun
pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
ˈpän-
: a person who makes a business of lending money and keeping personal property as a guarantee
pawnbroking noun

Legal Definition

pawnbroker

noun
pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on pawnbroker

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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