pawnbroker

noun

pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər 

ˈpän-

: one who lends money in exchange for personal property that can be sold if the loan is not repaid by a certain time

pawnbroking

ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kiŋ 

ˈpän-

noun

Examples of pawnbroker in a Sentence

He was desperate for money so he hocked his watch to a pawnbroker.

Recent Examples on the Web

Using the history of antisemitism against Jewish pawnbrokers (one of the few professions permitted to them in the 19th century), Grossman crafts a gripping tale of a woman who has swallowed the prejudices of society as surely as a poisonous potion. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 May 2024

The two founded a record company of their own, Vee Jay Records, using $500 borrowed from a pawnbroker. —The Indianapolis Star, 13 Aug. 2016

Gun sellers in this story were based on license categories 1, 2 and 9 from the ATF, which includes dealers in firearms other than destructive devices, including gunsmiths; pawnbrokers that sell firearms other than destructive devices; and dealers of destructive devices. —Ramsey Archibald | [e-mail], al, 10 July 2023

Because of these limits, banks kept interest rates between 6 and 12 percent and didn’t do much business with the poor, who in a pinch took their valuables to the pawnbroker or the loan shark. —Matthew Desmond, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

pawn entry 2 + broker entry 1

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pawnbroker

noun

pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər 

ˈpän-

: a person who makes a business of lending money and keeping personal property as a guarantee

pawnbroking

-kiŋ 

noun

Legal Definition

pawnbroker

noun

pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər 

: a person who lends money on the security of personal or movable property pledged in his or her keeping or who buys personal property and gives the seller an opportunity to buy back the property