A Broker Was Originally a Wine Tapper
A broker arranges deals between other parties. The word may come from broaching a barrel to sell wine by the measure.
A broker arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller for a fee. The likeliest origin is a wine merchant: Anglo-French *brocour* is connected to broaching a cask, that is, tapping a barrel to sell the contents in small quantities. The middleman who split up a bulk purchase became the middleman in general.
- An intermediary in deals. *An insurance broker.*
- To arrange. *Broker a ceasefire.*
- Brokerage — the business or its fee. *Brokerage charges.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | broker | A mortgage broker. |
| Plural | brokers | City brokers. |
| Verb | broker | Broker a deal. |
| Noun | brokerage | Brokerage fees. |
| Related | agent | A booking agent. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The broker found the best rate.Finance.
- The UN brokered a truce.Diplomacy.
- A power broker shapes decisions.Politics.
Kinds of broker
- Stockbroker — buys and sells shares for clients
- Insurance broker — finds cover across several insurers
- Mortgage broker — matches borrowers to lenders
- Pawnbroker — lends against goods left as security
- Honest broker — a neutral intermediary in a dispute
From Anglo-French *brocour*, a small trader, probably related to *broche*, a spike, and the practice of broaching casks.
Broker or agent?
An agent represents one party. A broker sits between two and is paid for arranging the connection.
What is an honest broker?
A neutral intermediary trusted by both sides in a negotiation, with no stake in the outcome.