pawn

1 of 2

verb

pawned; pawning; pawns

transitive verb

: to deposit in pledge or as security especially in exchange for money

pawner

ˈpȯ-nər 

ˈpä-

noun

or less commonly pawnor

ˈpȯ-nər 

ˈpä-;

pȯ-ˈnȯr, 

pä-

pawner

2 of 2

noun

pawn·​er ˈpȯnə(r) 

ˈpän-

variants or pawnor

", 

(ˈ)⸗¦nȯ(ə)r, 

-ȯ(ə)

plural -s

: one who pawns or pledges something as security

Synonyms of pawn

Verb

• deposit
• hock
• mortgage

Examples of pawn in a Sentence

Verb

She was forced to pawn her diamond ring.

he pawned his antique watch in order to pay off his gambling debt

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There were 46 items in the safe, some of which Kisakye allegedly pawned and sold to feed a substantial gambling habit. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026

If a helmet is too outdated for your family to use, don't pawn it off on someone else. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026

After being blackballed from the finance sector, Coop resorts to burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items to stay afloat. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026

Burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items just to stay afloat. —Ryan Brennan april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

derivative of pawn entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1566, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pawn

• passed pawn
• pawn off

Rhymes for pawn

• aune
• bon
• bonne
• brawn
• chon
• con
• conn
• crohn
• dawn
• drawn
• fawn
• gone

Kids Definition

pawn

1 of 3 noun

ˈpȯn 

ˈpän

1

: the piece of least value in the game of chess

2

: one that can be used to further the purposes of another

pawn

2 of 3 noun

1

: something given as a guarantee of repayment of a loan

2

: the state of being pledged

the watch was in pawn

pawn

3 of 3 verb

: to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan

pawn a watch

pawner noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pown "chess piece representing an ordinary soldier," from early French peoun, paun (same meaning), from Latin pedon-, pedo "foot soldier," derived from earlier ped-, pes "foot" — related to pedestrian

Noun

Middle English paun "something given as a guarantee of repayment of a loan"

Legal Definition

pawn

1 of 2 noun

ˈpȯn 

1

a

: a pledge and transfer of possession of movable or personal property to a creditor which gives the creditor the privilege of satisfying the debt from the property (as by selling it) if the debt is not repaid within a specified time

also : the property pledged

shall not take as a pawn any workman's tools

compare antichresis

b

: the state of being so pledged or burdened by such a pledge

goods held in pawn

2

: the act of pawning

pawn

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to put (personal or movable property) in pawn

when it is redeemed by the person who pawned it

compare hypothecate

pawner

ˈpȯ-nər 

noun

or pawnor

same or pȯ-ˈnȯr