usury

noun usu·ry \ ˈyü-zhə-rē , ˈyüzh-rē \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

plural usuries

1 archaic : interest

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

3 : 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

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Recent Examples of usury from the Web

The four companies are affiliated with the Habematolel Pomo tribe, which has argued that it is not governed by state laws and should not have to comply with state usury rules.

— stacy cowley, New York Times, "Consumer Watchdog’s Latest Budget Request: $0," 18 Jan. 2018
The weakest members of society should be helped to defend themselves against usury, just as poor peoples should be helped to derive real benefit from micro-credit, in order to discourage the exploitation that is possible in these two areas.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Checking in on America's Newest State, Foxconnsin," 8 Feb. 2018
The federal legislation being considered includes a provision saying state usury laws wouldn’t apply to ISAs, since the agreements technically don’t charge interest.

— jillian berman, WSJ, "Students Get Tuition Aid for a Piece of Their Future," 10 Sep. 2017
The 12% annual interest rate may sound excessive, but it is actually allowed as an exception to the normal maximum rate of interest permitted in most transactions in California under the state’s usury laws.

— donie vanitzian, latimes.com, "Charging interest on interest on past-due HOA accounts is a no-no," 9 Sep. 2017
The CFPB lawsuit accuses the companies of collecting on loans that violated state usury and lender licensing laws; an $800 loan carried a contract that would require the consumer to repay $3,320 over 10 months.

— steve vockrodt, kansascity.com, "Federal regulator sues four payday lending companies operating in Kansas," 27 Apr. 2017
Payday lending companies at times incorporate their businesses on tribal lands because tribes are generally immune from state regulations and lawsuits, and there’s no federal law on usury on the books.

— steve vockrodt, kansascity.com, "Federal regulator sues four payday lending companies operating in Kansas," 27 Apr. 2017
Most states have usury laws, which cap the rate of interest that can be charged.

— steven davidoff solomon, New York Times, "Acknowledging the Value of Lending Club, Even as It Stumbles," 17 May 2016

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.

Origin and Etymology of usury

Middle English usurie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin usuria, alteration of Latin usura, from usus, past participle of uti to use

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First Known Use: 14th century

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Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

USURY Defined for English Language Learners

usury

noun

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

Law Dictionary

usury

noun usu·ry \ ˈyü-zhə-rē \

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 5

Origin and Etymology of usury

Medieval Latin usuria interest, lending at exorbitant interest, alteration of Latin usura use, interest (i.e., sum paid for use of money), from usus use

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