usury
noun
usu·ry
ˈyü-zhə-rē 
ˈyüzh-rē
plural usuries
1
: the lending of money with an interest charge for its use
especially
: the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates
2
: an unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest
specifically
: interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money
3
archaic
: interest
Examples of usury in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The suits typically allege violations of state usury laws and federal racketeering or fair credit reporting statutes.
—
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2024
The 17 individuals were charged with multiple crimes, including enterprise corruption, first and second-degree criminal usury, and first-degree promoting gambling, according to the 84-count indictment.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
Additionally, usury caps on auto loans need to be strictly enforced, and the backdoor loopholes to debtors’ prisons should be closed.
—Jack McCordick, The New Republic, 13 Sep. 2023
Any thoughts? — Name Withheld From the Ethicist: Certain religious traditions do object to lending at interest, which was the original meaning of usury.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for usury 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2024
The 17 individuals were charged with multiple crimes, including enterprise corruption, first and second-degree criminal usury, and first-degree promoting gambling, according to the 84-count indictment.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
Additionally, usury caps on auto loans need to be strictly enforced, and the backdoor loopholes to debtors’ prisons should be closed.
—Jack McCordick, The New Republic, 13 Sep. 2023
Any thoughts? — Name Withheld From the Ethicist: Certain religious traditions do object to lending at interest, which was the original meaning of usury.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for usury
Dictionary Entries Near usury
Cite this Entry
“Usury.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usury. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
usury
noun
usu·ry
ˈyüzh-(ə-)rē
plural usuries
1
: the lending of money with an interest charge for its use
2
: a rate of interest that is very high or higher than the usual rate
Legal Definition
usury
noun
usu·ry
ˈyü-zhə-rē
1
: the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates
specifically
: the crime of charging or contracting to charge an unlawfully high rate of interest
2
: a rate or amount of interest charged in usury compare legal interest at interest sense 5
Etymology
Medieval Latin usuria interest, lending at exorbitant interest, alteration of Latin usura use, interest (i.e., sum paid for use of money), from usus use
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share