noun
usury
YOO-zhuh-ree
noun
1
The practice of lending money at an unfairly high, often illegal, rate of interest.
"Medieval laws in some countries banned usury outright."
"Loan sharks are essentially practicing usury."
How to Use Usury
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCharging excessive interest on a loan.
Common pairings
charge usury
laws against usury
Word Forms
usuries plural
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Etymology
From Latin usura ("interest, payment for use of money"), from usus ("use").