moneylender

IPA/ˈmʌnilendə(r)/
IPA/ˈmʌnilendər/

moneylender — noun

  • moneylendersingular
  • moneylendersplural

1. a person or company that lends money to people as a business, typically charging

1.nounB2
Definition

a person or company that lends money to people as a business, typically charging a higher rate of interest than a bank would charge

Example

Carlos turned to a moneylender who charged 20% interest after the bank refused him a loan.

collocation: turn to a moneylender

The local moneylender gave small sums to people in the village who needed cash quickly.

moneylender + gave + [amount] to [recipient]

Common collocations
  • borrow from a moneylender
  • go to a moneylender
  • turn to a moneylender
  • a moneylender lends
  • a moneylender charges high interest
  • rely on a moneylender
Synonyms
  • lender

    broader term; includes banks and credit unions, which may charge standard rates

  • loan shark

    strongly negative; suggests illegal lending with threats or violence

  • creditor

    focuses on the debt relationship (someone owed money) rather than the lending profession

Antonyms
  • borrower

    the person who takes the money rather than providing it

Grammar Patterns

moneylender + verb (lends/charges/gives)

borrow from + moneylender

go to + moneylender

Usage Note

Frequently appears in contexts describing people who lack access to mainstream banking. The term often carries a mildly negative tone because moneylenders typically charge higher interest than regulated banks.

Common Mistakes

The moneylender borrowed me $500 at a low rate.
The moneylender lent me $500 at a high rate.
'Borrow' and 'lend' are opposites; moneylenders lend (give) money, they do not borrow (receive) it. The rate charged is typically high, not low.

Word family

  • moneylending
    nounC1
  • moneylending
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Moneylender, lender, loan shark, and creditor all involve the giving of money, but they differ in tone and scope. Lender is the broadest term, covering any person or institution (including banks and credit unions) that provides money to be repaid, usually with interest. Moneylender is narrower: it refers to someone whose business is lending, often outside the mainstream banking system, and it typically implies higher interest rates. Loan shark is a strongly negative term for a lender who charges extremely high interest and may use threats or violence to collect debts. Creditor focuses on the relationship of being owed money — a credit card company, a bank, or even a friend who lent you $20 — and does not carry the professional-lending connotations of moneylender. For example: 'The bank was a reliable lender, the moneylender charged high interest, and the loan shark threatened him when he fell behind.'

lender ↗loan sharkcreditor ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • borrow from a moneylender
  • turn to a moneylender
  • lend money through a moneylender

Prepositions

  • from (borrow from a moneylender)
  • to (go to a moneylender)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Moneylender is a compound of 'money' and 'lender'. 'Money' comes from Middle English 'moneie', via Old French from Latin 'moneta' (a mint, coinage). 'Lender' comes from Old English 'lænan' (to lend) plus the agent suffix '-er'. The compound has been in use since the 1500s, reflecting the long-standing need for a word to describe people whose business is lending cash, often at interest.