pawn

¹ American  

[pawn] / pɔn /

verb (used with object)

1. to deposit as security, as for money borrowed, especially with a pawnbroker.

   He raised the money by pawning his watch.

2. to pledge; stake; risk.

   to pawn one's life.

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noun

1. the state of being deposited or held as security, especially with or by a pawnbroker.

   jewels in pawn.

2. something given or deposited as security, as for money borrowed.

   Synonyms:

   pledge

3. a person serving as security; hostage.

4. the act of pawning.

pawn ² American  

[pawn] / pɔn /

noun

1. Chess. one of eight men of one color and of the lowest value, usually moved one square at a time vertically and capturing diagonally.

2. someone who is used or manipulated to further another person's purposes.

   Synonyms:

   dupe, tool, puppet

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pawn ¹ British  

/ pɔːn /

verb

1. to deposit (an article) as security for the repayment of a loan, esp from a pawnbroker

2. to stake

   to pawn one's honour

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noun

1. an article deposited as security

2. the condition of being so deposited (esp in the phrase in pawn )

3. a person or thing that is held as a security, esp a hostage

4. the act of pawning

pawn ² British  

/ pɔːn /

noun

1.  P.  a chessman of the lowest theoretical value, limited to forward moves of one square at a time with the option of two squares on its initial move: it captures with a diagonal move only Compare piece

2. a person, group, etc, manipulated by another

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Other Word Forms

• pawnable
  adjective
• pawnage
  noun
• pawner
  noun
• pawnor
  noun
• unpawned
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pawn¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; noun from Middle French pan; Old French pan(d), pant, apparently from West Germanic; compare Old Frisian pand, Old Saxon, Middle Dutch pant, German Pfand; verb derivative of the noun

Origin of pawn²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English poun(e), paun, from Anglo-French, equivalent to Middle French poon, variant of paon, earlier pe(h)on “foot soldier,” literally, “walker”; see origin at peon ¹

Explanation

To pawn something is to use it as collateral when you're borrowing money. When you pawn a necklace at a pawn shop, you get cash in exchange for it with the understanding that you can buy it back later. The benefit when you pawn something is getting cash immediately. The down side is that you'll have to pay more money — the amount you borrowed, plus interest — to get your item back. If you aren't able to do this, the pawn shop will sell it to someone else. As a noun, a pawn is the smallest, least powerful piece in a game of chess, or a description of a person who's being used or manipulated.

Example Sentences

Evgeny agrees to share, but implores Dmitri not to eat it all because he “had to pawn off a bit of mother’s good silver and then wait three hours in line.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

They may turn to pawn transactions and other informal borrowing arrangements.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

However, Fiona's plan to oust Rachel came back to haunt her: "Unfortunately I was the master of my own downfall, but I would prefer that than be someone else's pawn."

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

Blaming China for taking the deal we offered is like blaming the pawn shop for buying your watch.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 19, 2025

“I’m an absolute pawn when it comes to the weather.”

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• dupe
• patsy
• puppet
• stooge