usury

usu·ry | \ ˈyü-zhə-rē

How to pronounce usury (audio)

, ˈyüzh-rē \

plural usuries

Definition of usury

1 : the lending of money with an interest charge for its use especially : the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates

2 : an unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest specifically : interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money

3 archaic : interest

Examples of usury in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web When the plague struck Barcelona, both explanations were used, about usury and the killing of Christ. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, "How Anti-Semitism Rises on the Left and Right," 3 Jan. 2020 The tribal connection, which critics say is designed to try to skirt state usury laws, isn't new. — Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, "AG Nessel sues online tribal lender over 'predatory' lending practices," 31 Oct. 2019 The cameras made the evils of usury, stealing and smuggling visible. — Richard Vokes, Quartz Africa, "A recently discovered trove of photos shows life in Uganda during Idi Amin’s troubled reign," 30 June 2019 The cameras made the evils of usury, stealing and smuggling visible. — Richard Vokes, Quartz Africa, "A recently discovered trove of photos shows life in Uganda during Idi Amin’s troubled reign," 30 June 2019 The cameras made the evils of usury, stealing and smuggling visible. — Richard Vokes, Quartz Africa, "A recently discovered trove of photos shows life in Uganda during Idi Amin’s troubled reign," 30 June 2019 The cameras made the evils of usury, stealing and smuggling visible. — Richard Vokes, Quartz Africa, "A recently discovered trove of photos shows life in Uganda during Idi Amin’s troubled reign," 30 June 2019 The cameras made the evils of usury, stealing and smuggling visible. — Richard Vokes, Quartz Africa, "A recently discovered trove of photos shows life in Uganda during Idi Amin’s troubled reign," 30 June 2019 The cameras made the evils of usury, stealing and smuggling visible. — Richard Vokes, Quartz Africa, "A recently discovered trove of photos shows life in Uganda during Idi Amin’s troubled reign," 30 June 2019

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

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Last Updated

7 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Usury.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usury. Accessed 18 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for usury

usury

noun

English Language Learners Definition of usury

formal + disapproving : the practice of lending money and requiring the borrower to pay a high amount of interest

See the full definition for usury in the English Language Learners Dictionary

usury

usu·ry | \ ˈyü-zhə-rē

\

Legal Definition of usury

1 : the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates specifically : the crime of charging or contracting to charge an unlawfully high rate of interest

2 : a rate or amount of interest charged in usury — compare legal interest at interest sense 5

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