What does "pawn" mean?
The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.
Pawn
/pɔn/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.
- Grammar: pawn is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: instrument, agent, ancilla, appliance.
- Useful contrasts: autonomous agent, buy back, free agent.
- Usage evidence: A person who is only a pawn in the game often talks big in company.
How to use "pawn"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pawn" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pawn" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pawn" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pawn" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pawn" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "instrument" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pawn", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge. uncountable
"All our jewellery was in pawn by this stage."
- 2 The most numerous chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess, each side starts with eight; moves are only forward, and attacks are only diagonally or en passant.
"The pawn may move forward to the square immediately in front of it on the same file, provided that this square is unoccupied […] Consequently, in the initial position the white pieces and pawns are placed on the first and second ranks; the black pieces and pawns on the eighth and seventh ranks."
- 3 Alternative form of paan. alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable
"A tray filled with pawns, prepared with the usual ingredients, as lime cuttie (a bitter gum), betel-nut, tobacco, spices, &c."
- 4 A gallery.
- 5 borrowing and leaving an article as security for repayment of the loan wordnet
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 An instance of pawning something. countable, uncountable
"Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown."
- 7 A person being manipulated by another, being used to some end. idiomatic
"Near-synonym: chess piece"
- 8 (chess) the least powerful piece; moves only forward and captures only to the side; it can be promoted to a more powerful piece if it reaches the 8th rank wordnet
- 9 An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge. archaic, countable, uncountable
"My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thy enemies."
- 10 a person used by another to gain an end wordnet
- 11 A pawnshop; pawnbroker. countable, rare, uncountable
- 12 an article deposited as security wordnet
Verb
- 1 To pledge; to stake or wager. transitive
- 2 Alternative form of pwn. alt-of, alternative
- 3 leave as a guarantee in return for money wordnet
- 4 To give as security on a loan of money; especially, to deposit (something) at a pawn shop. transitive
"A certain, and probably an appreciable, proportion of his so-called money at call and short notice would consist of fortnightly advances made to members of the Stock Exchange against pawned stocks and shares."
Antonyms
autonomous agentbuy backfree agentindependent actor
Example
"A person who is only a pawn in the game often talks big in company."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pawn"?
Common synonyms include: instrument, agent, ancilla, appliance, assurance, bail.
How do you use "pawn" in a sentence?
A person who is only a pawn in the game often talks big in company.
How do you pronounce "pawn"?
Pronounced /pɔn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English paun, pawyn, pawnd, from Old French pan, pant (“pledge for a payment”), from a Germanic language, perhaps Frankish *pand (“deposit, security, pledge”), further origin uncertain. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pound (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), West Frisian pân (“pawn”), Dutch pand (“pledge, pawn”), German Low German Pand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), German Pfand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), Swedish pant (“pledge, pawn”), Faroese pantur (“security, lien”), Icelandic pantur (“pledge, security, pawn”).
Etymology 2
From Middle English pown, from Anglo-Norman poun, paun (“footman”), from Late Latin pedōnem (“pedestrian”), derived from Latin ped- (“foot”). Doublet of peon.