pawnbroker

[ pawn-broh-ker ]

noun

1. a person whose business is lending money at interest on personal, movable property deposited with the lender until redeemed.

pawnbroker

/ ˈpɔːnˌbrəʊkə /

noun

1. a dealer licensed to lend money at a specified rate of interest on the security of movable personal property, which can be sold if the loan is not repaid within a specified period

Derived Forms

• ˈpawnˌbroking, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pawnbroker¹

First recorded in 1680–90; pawn ¹ + broker

Example Sentences

It was never just about the neon, that Cubist, consumerist razzle-dazzle cantilevered over Hong Kong’s streets announcing pawnbrokers and mooncake bakers, saunas and shark’s fin soup shops.

From New York Times

He is the patron saint of Greece and Russia, Moscow and New York, as well as charities, children and pawnbrokers.

From Seattle Times

But since a government clampdown on payday lenders, pawnbrokers are the only route for some people to get the money they need fast.

From BBC

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.

From New York Times

A dessert shop, bakery, pound store, charity shop, takeaway and pawnbrokers make up Weatherfield Precinct.

From BBC