broker

broker — noun

1. a person or business that buys, sells, or arranges financial or property deals f

1.nounC1
Definition

a person or business that buys, sells, or arranges financial or property deals for a client.

Example

Priya called her broker before buying shares in the phone company.

collocation: call your broker before buying shares

The broker found a cheaper home loan for the young couple.

collocation: home loan broker

Common collocations
  • call your broker
  • stock broker
  • insurance broker
  • mortgage broker
Synonyms
  • agent

    broader; an agent can represent someone in many kinds of work

  • dealer

    often buys and sells for their own business, not for a client

  • trader

    focuses more on market buying and selling than on client service

Usage Note

Often modified by the field or product handled, such as stock broker, insurance broker, or mortgage broker. Distinguish from noun/2, which is about helping opposing sides reach agreement.

Common Mistakes

My broker bought the shares to me.
My broker bought the shares for me.
a broker acts on a client's behalf, so 'for' is the usual preposition.

2. a person who carries proposals between opposing sides to help them agree or stop

2.nounC2
Definition

a person who carries proposals between opposing sides to help them agree or stop a conflict.

Example

The Swiss broker carried messages between the two presidents all night.

broker between opposing sides

Leila worked as a broker in the village land dispute.

act as a broker in a dispute

Common collocations
  • trusted broker
  • broker in peace talks
  • neutral broker
  • act as a broker
Synonyms
  • mediator

    the closest general word for a neutral person helping two sides agree

  • go-between

    less formal; stresses carrying messages between sides

  • negotiator

    can be one of the sides, not necessarily a neutral helper

Usage Note

Usually used for political disputes, peace talks, or other serious disagreements. Distinguish from noun/1, which is about client transactions in markets, property, or insurance.

broker — verb

Word family

  • brokerage
    nounC1
  • brokered
    adjectiveC2
  • brokering
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, a broker is a middle person who handles a deal for a client, often in shares, property, insurance, or foreign money. Agent is broader: an agent can represent someone in many fields, not only buying and selling. Dealer often buys and sells for their own business, so it does not always suggest acting for a client. Trader usually highlights market activity itself, especially in shares or currency, rather than customer service. Adviser is close in finance, but an adviser may only give advice and may not place the trade. You might call a broker to buy shares for you, but a trader at a bank may be trading the bank's own money.

agent ↗dealer ↗trader ↗adviser ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • act as a broker
  • serve as a broker
  • broker a deal

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-FrenchEnglish

Broker came into English through Anglo-French and Old French words connected with trading and small-scale selling. Over time, the meaning narrowed to a person who arranges business or agreements for other people rather than simply selling goods.