pawn
1to deposit as security, as for money borrowed, especially with a pawnbroker: He raised the money by pawning his watch.
the state of being deposited or held as security, especially with or by a pawnbroker: jewels in pawn.
something given or deposited as security, as for money borrowed.
a person serving as security; hostage.
the act of pawning.
Origin of pawn
1Other words for pawn
Other words from pawn
- pawn·a·ble, adjective
- pawn·er [paw-ner], /ˈpɔ nər/, paw·nor [paw-ner, -nawr], /ˈpɔ nər, -nɔr/, noun
- un·pawned, adjective
Other definitions for pawn (2 of 2)
Chess. one of eight men of one color and of the lowest value, usually moved one square at a time vertically and capturing diagonally.
someone who is used or manipulated to further another person's purposes.
Origin of pawn
2Other words for pawn
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pawn in a sentence
Fou avoided becoming a pawn in cold war propaganda, but his politically charged status cannot have helped his career.
Fou Ts’ong, Chinese pianist who bridged East and West, dies at 86 of covid-19 | Emily Langer | January 7, 2021 | Washington PostThe stores run the gamut from publicly traded pawn companies, such as EZCorp and FirstCash, to small mom-and-pop operations.
It’s easy to assume pawnshops are doing great in the pandemic. It’s also wrong. | Emily Stewart | November 30, 2020 | VoxMany of its responsibilities were subsequently pawned off onto the military.
Egypt’s Vanished: Victims of State Security Force Kidnappings? | Alastair Beach | September 18, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTMatt and Meredith had pawned her off on Natalie Morales and the segment had run short.
With Into the Wild, I pawned off that decision on the McCandless family.
I pawned all our jewellery, and as we had a great many valuable things, I got several thousand francs.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. WilliamsonLastly the pawner is liable for any deficiency after the sale of the thing pawned, unless released by statute.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesBut it was necessary to pay, and in order not to ask you for money, she sold her horses and her shawls, and pawned her jewels.
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias) | Alexandre Dumas, filsAnyway there remains the problem of who pawned the Withers emeralds and diamonds this afternoon.
The Winning Clue | James Hay, Jr.That struck me at once, remembering that the jewels were pawned in Baltimore by a man who wore a moustache.
The Winning Clue | James Hay, Jr.
British Dictionary definitions for pawn (1 of 2)
/ (pɔːn) /
to deposit (an article) as security for the repayment of a loan, esp from a pawnbroker
to stake: to pawn one's honour
an article deposited as security
the condition of being so deposited (esp in the phrase in pawn)
a person or thing that is held as a security, esp a hostage
the act of pawning
Origin of pawn
1Derived forms of pawn
- pawnage, noun
British Dictionary definitions for pawn (2 of 2)
/ (pɔːn) /
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: Abbreviation: P Compare piece (def. 12)
a person, group, etc, manipulated by another
Origin of pawn
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse