usury

Meaning

1. An exorbitant rate of interest, in excess of any legal rates or at least immorally.
2. The practice of lending money at such rates.
3. The practice of lending money at interest.
4. (obsolete) Profit.

Synonyms

usurious interest

profiteering

vigorish

loansharking

money-lending

usurer

gombeen

loan shark

use

usuriousness

excessive profits

exploitation

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈjuːʒəɹi/

Etymology

From Middle English usurie, from Latin ūsūria, from ūsūra (“lending at interest, usury”) from ūsus (“use”), from stem of ūtī (“to use”). Compare usurp and use.