pawn

noun

Pronunciation: /pɔːn/

Definition

A chess piece of the lowest value that moves one square forward, or a person used by others to achieve their own ends.

Examples

• She sacrificed her pawn to open a path for her queen.

• The politician realized he was merely a pawn in the party's larger strategy.

• The rebels were used as pawns by the neighboring country to destabilize the region.

How to Use pawn

pawn off (phrasal verb)

To get rid of something by giving it to someone else, often dishonestly. — "He tried to pawn off his old, broken car on an unsuspecting buyer."

be a pawn in (idiom)

To be used by someone else for their own benefit. — "She refused to be a pawn in their corporate power struggle."

Synonyms of pawn

Words with a similar meaning to pawn:

• foot soldier
• tool
• puppet
• cat's-paw

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