pawn

noun
UK: /pɔːn/
US: /pɑːn/

  1. A chess piece of the smallest size and value.

    1. The pawn moved forward two spaces at the start.
    2. He sacrificed a pawn to gain a better position on the board.

  2. A person used by others for their own purposes.

    1. He was just a pawn in their political game.
    2. She felt like a pawn, manipulated by forces beyond her control.

  3. Something left as a guarantee that you will pay back money that you have borrowed.

    1. I had to leave my watch in pawn at the shop.
    2. To get some money, he put his valuable guitar in pawn.

Synonyms

tool puppet instrument pledge
pawn transitive-verb

  1. To leave something with a pawnbroker as security for money lent.

    1. I had to pawn my camera to get some cash.
    2. Desperate for money, she pawned her jewelry at the local shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "pawn" in English means: A chess piece of the smallest size and value., A person used by others for their own purposes., Something left as a guarantee that you will pay back money that you have borrowed..

The phonetic transcription of "pawn" is /pɔːn/ in British English and /pɑːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pawn": tool, puppet, instrument, pledge.

Example usage of "pawn": "The pawn moved forward two spaces at the start.". More examples on the page.