Pawnbrokery is the act of lending money to someone in exchange for a personal possession that is held as collateral. There are some other synonyms used for pawnbrokery, which include pawning, pledging, hocking, and loaning. Pawning refers to the act of offering personal belongings in exchange for a loan. Pledging also indicates the offering of an item as collateral for a loan. Hocking is another term that indicates the act of pawning. Loaning is a synonym that suggests the idea of borrowing money, rather than selling personal items. Regardless of the term used, pawnbrokery continues to be an important financial service for individuals in need of quick cash.