pawnbroker

noun

pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
ˈpän-
: one who lends money in exchange for personal property that can be sold if the loan is not repaid by a certain time
pawnbroking
ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kiŋ How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
ˈpän-
noun

Examples of pawnbroker in a Sentence

He was desperate for money so he hocked his watch to a pawnbroker.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Never before has a town greeted me with a broke pawnbroker. — Literary Hub, 26 Nov. 2025 The two founded a record company of their own, Vee Jay Records, using $500 borrowed from a pawnbroker. — The Indianapolis Star, 13 Aug. 2016 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. — Matthew Desmond, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2023 For example, if someone builds a firearm at home and then sells it to a pawnbroker or another licensed dealer, that dealer must add a serial number to the weapon before selling it to a customer. — Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2022 See All Example Sentences for pawnbroker

Word History

Etymology

pawn entry 2 + broker entry 1

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pawnbroker was in 1658

Rhymes for pawnbroker

See All Rhymes for pawnbroker

Browse Nearby Words

pawnage
pawnbroker
pawnbrokerage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pawnbroker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pawnbroker. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pawnbroker

noun
pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
ˈpän-
: a person who makes a business of lending money and keeping personal property as a guarantee
pawnbroking
-kiŋ How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

pawnbroker

noun
pawn·​bro·​ker ˈpȯn-ˌbrō-kər How to pronounce pawnbroker (audio)
: a person who lends money on the security of personal or movable property pledged in his or her keeping or who buys personal property and gives the seller an opportunity to buy back the property

More from Merriam-Webster on pawnbroker

Nglish: Translation of pawnbroker for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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