bookmaker

noun

book·​mak·​er ˈbu̇k-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce bookmaker (audio)
Synonyms of bookmakernext
1
: a printer, binder, or designer of books
2
: a person who determines odds and receives and pays off bets
bookmaking noun

Examples of bookmaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Bowie Kuhn, who served as commissioner from 1969 to 1984, suspended All-Star pitcher Denny McLain in 1970 for his involvement with bookmakers. Michael Delayo, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026 Later, Native American reservations and offshore bookmakers got in on the action. Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026 This latter point is crucial as 10% of returns made by bookmakers from horse racing bets are returned to the sport via a government levy. Ian King, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026 At this stage, bookmakers Coral and Ladbrokes were offering 200-1 on a Bradford victory in the live market. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bookmaker

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bookmaker was in the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Bookmaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookmaker. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

bookmaker

noun
book·​mak·​er ˈbu̇k-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce bookmaker (audio)
: a person who receives and pays off bets

Legal Definition

bookmaker

noun
book·​mak·​er ˈbu̇k-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce bookmaker (audio)
: a person who determines odds and receives and pays off bets

called also bookie

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