pawnbroker

American  

[pawn-broh-ker] / ˈpɔnˌbroʊ kər /

noun

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

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pawnbroker British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• pawnbroking
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pawnbroker

First recorded in 1680–90; pawn ¹ + broker

Explanation

A pawnbroker is someone who owns a shop that loans people money in exchange for valuable items. If you want to hock your engagement ring, head to a pawnbroker! If you pawn your bike at a pawnbroker's shop (also called a pawnshop), you will leave with cash, but not quite as much as your bike is worth. To get it back, you'll have to pay back the money plus interest — and if you don't, the pawnbroker will eventually sell your bike to someone else. To pawn is to "give an object as security in exchange for money," and a broker is a "seller of other people's goods."

Example Sentences

You can always head to your local pawnbroker or a merchant who specializes in coins or precious metals.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 31, 2025

As Birmingham asks, “Why not peer over Raskolnikov’s shoulder while he’s face-to-face with the stupid, deaf, sick, greedy pawnbroker, waiting for his moment?”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2021

Ms. Marquez of BlockFi called the sheriff’s office in San Francisco about a pawnbroker license, only to be redirected again.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2021

In practice, according to the California attorney general’s office, this means any loan from a bank, savings and loan, credit union, finance corporation or even a pawnbroker is exempt from the usury law.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2021

Over time, I repay the pawnbroker the amount the person gave me, with interest, and I can get my jewelry back.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young