Pawnbroker Meaning
/ˈpɔːnˌbɹəʊ.kə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA person who makes monetary loans at interest, taking personal property as security – which may be sold if not redeemed.
Sentence Examples
He redeemed his watch from the pawnbroker.
Tom is a pawnbroker.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He left his gold watch as collateral at the pawn shop with the ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She visited the ____ to retrieve her grandmother's ring after saving enough money to buy it back.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English pawn English broke English -er English broker English pawnbroker From pawn + broker.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""We may keep it by us," replied the pawnbroker, "for months; there is no demand for such articles." "But," exclaimed she, eagerly, "I shall soon redeem it!" "So you all say," returned the man, with imperturbable coolness."
— 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Poverty”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 280:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He left his gold watch as collateral at the pawn shop with the ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She visited the ____ to retrieve her grandmother's ring after saving enough money to buy it back.