loan-sharking
|loan-shark-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈloʊnˌʃɑrkɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈləʊnˌʃɑːkɪŋ/
(loan-shark)
predatory money-lending
Etymology
'loan-sharking' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'loan' and 'shark', where 'loan' meant 'a lending' and 'shark' meant 'a predatory person'.
'shark' was originally the name of the fish and developed a figurative sense of 'swindler' or 'predatory person' in English; the compound 'loan-shark' emerged in early 20th century English to describe predatory moneylenders, and the gerund/participle form 'loan-sharking' derived from that noun/verb form.
Initially it referred to 'a predatory moneylender' ('loan-shark'), but over time it has also come to refer to the practice itself — 'loan-sharking' — meaning the activity of predatory lending and its associated collection methods.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the practice or business of lending money at extremely high interest rates and often using threats or violence to collect debts.
He was arrested for loan-sharking.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'loan-shark': to lend money at exorbitant interest rates and often use threats or violence to collect debts.
They were loan-sharking small businesses during the recession.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/06 14:53