English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
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noun

bookmaker

BUUK-may-kuh
noun
1
A person or business that sets odds and accepts bets on events such as horse racing or sports.
"The bookmaker shortened the odds after the star player was confirmed fit."

How to Use Bookmaker

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA person or company whose business is taking bets and paying out winnings.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
high-street bookmaker online bookmaker

Word Forms

bookmakers plural

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The _____ shortened the odds after the star player was confirmed fit.

Etymology

From the 19th-century English phrase "make a book," meaning to record and manage a set of bets.

Rhymes for bookmaker

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial