loan shark

noun

Informal.

1. a person who lends money at excessively high rates of interest; usurer.

loan shark

noun

1. informal,  a person who lends funds at illegal or exorbitant rates of interest

Word History and Origins

Origin of loan shark¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

By charging fees that would make a loan shark blush.

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I doubt any partnership would have sought to game the rating agencies, or leapt into bed with loan sharks, or even allowed mezzanine CDOs to be sold to its customers.

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A new credit union has loan sharks in its sights as it becomes the first of its kind to launch in Stoke-on-Trent in more than a decade.

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Of those surveyed, 4% had turned to a loan shark, or unregistered lender within the last 12 months.

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"It's an event for anyone who would like advice about money, whether that's general budgeting help, or advice on specific issues like problems with gambling, dealing with loan sharks and how to protect from scams."

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