# brokerage

/ˈbɹoʊkɝɪdʒ/ (US) · /bɹˈəʊkɹɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brokerage
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a business or firm

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a company that acts as a middleman to help you buy and sell things like stocks, insurance, or houses.

For teachers: a commercial firm or agency that acts as an intermediary between a buyer and a seller, typically in financial or real estate markets.

- He opened an account with an online brokerage to start investing in the stock market.
- The merger between the two major brokerages created a dominant player in the retail investment sector, controlling billions in client assets.

Usage: Often used as a countable noun when referring to a specific company.

### 2. a commission or fee

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the money or fee you pay to a broker for helping you complete a deal.

For teachers: the commission or service fee charged by a broker for executing a transaction.

- The brokerage on the sale of the house was five percent of the final price.
- Investors should carefully calculate the total brokerage costs, as high transaction fees can significantly erode long-term portfolio returns.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the general concept of fees.

### 3. the activity or profession

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the job or activity of acting as a broker.

For teachers: the professional practice or occupation of acting as an intermediary in commercial transactions.

- She spent her entire career in brokerage, specializing in commercial shipping.
- The regulatory environment for insurance brokerage has become increasingly complex, requiring practitioners to maintain rigorous compliance standards.

Usage: Uncountable in this sense.

## Examples

- The bank charged a small brokerage fee.
- She paid a 2% brokerage fee to the agent for selling her house.
- The high brokerage costs associated with frequent trading can significantly erode an investor's long-term returns.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.