usury

[ˈjuːʒəri]

usury Definition

the illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest.

Using usury: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "usury" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The government has strict laws against usury.

  • Example

    He was charged with usury for charging 50% interest on the loan.

  • Example

    Usury is a common practice among loan sharks.

usury Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for usury

  • loan-sharking
  • extortionate lending
  • predatory lending

Phrases with usury

  • to lend money at an unreasonably high rate of interest

    Example

    It is illegal to commit usury in most countries.

  • laws that regulate the amount of interest that can be charged on a loan

    Example

    Usury laws vary from state to state in the US.

  • an excessively high rate of interest charged on a loan

    Example

    The borrower was unable to repay the loan due to the usurious interest charged by the lender.

Origins of usury

from Latin 'usura', meaning 'interest'

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Summary: usury in Brief

'Usury' [ˈjuːʒəri] refers to the illegal practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest. It is often associated with loan sharks and predatory lending, and is regulated by usury laws. Examples of usury include charging 50% interest on a loan and committing usury, which is illegal in most countries.