usury
noun
usu·ry
ˈyü-zhə-rē 
ˈyüzh-rē
plural usuries
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
These included allegations of unconscionability, usury and unfair practices.
—
Aj Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Some of the companies have countersued the creditor, Cornerstone Payment Systems Inc, for alleged usury and unjust enrichment.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh
naveed Jamali, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
The suit alleged that McGraw and the other defendants, including Minto Money, violated state usury laws and federal prohibitions against collecting unlawful debt.
—Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 21 May 2025
The 17 individuals were charged with multiple crimes, including enterprise corruption, first and second-degree criminal usury, and first-degree promoting gambling, according to the 84-count indictment.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for usury
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Aj Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Some of the companies have countersued the creditor, Cornerstone Payment Systems Inc, for alleged usury and unjust enrichment.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh
naveed Jamali, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
The suit alleged that McGraw and the other defendants, including Minto Money, violated state usury laws and federal prohibitions against collecting unlawful debt.
—Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 21 May 2025
The 17 individuals were charged with multiple crimes, including enterprise corruption, first and second-degree criminal usury, and first-degree promoting gambling, according to the 84-count indictment.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for usury
Cite this Entry
“Usury.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usury. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
usury
noun
usu·ry
ˈyüzh-(ə-)rē
plural usuries
1
: the lending of money with an interest charge for its use
2
: a rate of interest that is very high or higher than the usual rate
Legal Definition
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 sense 5
Etymology
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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