thumb|A pawnshop business in Munich, Germany in 2014 thumb|Helsingin Pantti's pawnbroker in Helsinki, Finland in 2023 thumb|A London shop displays the traditional pawnbroker's sign A pawnbroker is an individual or business (pawnshop or pawn shop) that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral. The items having been pawned to the broker are themselves called pledges or pawns, or simply the collateral. While many items can be pawned, pawnshops typically accept jewelry, musical instruments, home audio equipment, computers, video game systems, coins, gold, silver, televisions, cameras, power tools, firearms, and other relatively valuable items as collateral.
THuMb|a paWNshop BuSInesS In MuniCh, gerManY in 2014 thUmb|helsinGIN PantTI's pawnbRokEr IN HelsiNki, finlaND iN 2023 tHUMb|A lonDoN Shop diSplays THe traDiTiONaL pAwnbroKEr's sign a pawnbrOker is AN inDIvidual or bUSinESs (pAWnshOp or pAWN SHop) thaT ofFers sEcurED LoanS to peoPLe, witH items of pErsonaL PrOpErty USED as COllateraL. The iteMs hAVIng been pawNed to The brOkER aRe themsElveS CALLEd PledgeS or pAwnS, OR simpLy tHE collaTERAl. whIle ManY Items can bE pawNed, pawNshops tYpIcally AcCePT JewElry, MUsiCaL INsTruMeNTs, HOMe aUDio EqUiPmeNT, COmputers, viDeO GAme systeMs, Coins, gold, SilVer, tElEVisIoNS, caMEras, pOwer tOolS, firEArmS, And otHer RelaTiVeLy valuablE iTeMs as cOllaTeraL.