bookmaker

noun

book·​mak·​er ˈbu̇k-ˌmā-kər 

1

: a printer, binder, or designer of books

2

: a person who determines odds and receives and pays off bets

bookmaking

ˈbu̇k-ˌmā-kiŋ 

noun

Examples of bookmaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Three Lions head into this tournament as the bookmakers’ third-favorite and boast an incredible squad with players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. —Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

In the first, sophisticated statistical models and expert insight from bookmakers and transfer markets are combined to determine the strengths of all teams and their players. —Achim Zeileis, The Conversation, 9 June 2026

But a battle could be brewing between the traditional bookmakers and the ever-growing prediction markets. —Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 June 2026

While bookmakers trust Palace’s attacking quality, the wider markets point towards a tense final rather than an expansive one. —Dean Jones, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bookmaker

noun

book·​mak·​er ˈbu̇k-ˌmā-kər 

: a person who receives and pays off bets

Legal Definition

bookmaker

noun

book·​mak·​er ˈbu̇k-ˌmā-kər 

: a person who determines odds and receives and pays off bets

called also bookie