noun
usury
YOO-zhuh-ree
Usury (noun) means the practice of lending money at an unfairly high, often illegal, rate of interest. Example: “Medieval laws in some countries banned usury outright.”
noun
1
The practice of lending money at an unfairly high, often illegal, rate of interest.
"As a practical matter, California usury laws do not seriously inconvenience most lenders, and offer little protection to most borrowers."
— June Lin, California Usury Laws (2018)
"Medieval laws in some countries banned usury outright."
"Loan sharks are essentially practicing usury."
How to use usury
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCharging excessive interest on a loan.
Common pairings
charge usury
laws against usury
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Word forms
- Plural
- usuries
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Medieval laws in some countries banned _____ outright.
Etymology
From Latin usura ("interest, payment for use of money"), from usus ("use").
Synonyms
View more →
vigorish
oker
Related words
Rhymes for usury
See all rhymes for usury →Frequently asked questions
What does “usury” mean?
The word “usury” means the practice of lending money at an unfairly high, often illegal, rate of interest. In plain terms, charging excessive interest on a loan.
How do you pronounce “usury”?
“Usury” is pronounced YOO-zhuh-ree (/ˈjuːʒəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “usury” in a sentence?
Here is “usury” used in a sentence: “Medieval laws in some countries banned usury outright.”
What is another word for “usury”?
Words with a similar meaning to “usury” include oker.
What part of speech is “usury”?
“Usury” is a noun.
Where does the word “usury” come from?
The word “usury” comes from Latin. From Latin usura ("interest, payment for use of money"), from usus ("use").
