What does broking mean?
Broking is the noun denoting the work carried out by a broker: bringing buyers and sellers together and executing transactions on their behalf in return for a fee or commission. The term covers a wide range of markets — securities, commodities, insurance, reinsurance, shipping freight, and real estate — and appears frequently in phrases like 'insurance broking', 'reinsurance broking', and 'broking house'. It is used more often in British English than American English, where 'brokerage' tends to fill the same role, though 'brokerage' can also refer to the commission charged or to the firm itself, whereas 'broking' refers strictly to the activity. The word derives from 'broker', which entered English via Anglo-Norman; its ultimate origin is uncertain, though it may be connected to an Old French term linked to a brooch or tap used by wine sellers. Today it signals a specialised, intermediary trade within finance and commerce.
nounThe business or activity of acting as a broker — buying and selling goods, securities, insurance, or other assets on behalf of clients in return for commission.
- The occupation or business of a broker: arranging transactions in securities, commodities, insurance, shipping, or property on behalf of others for a commission.
"After twenty years in insurance broking, she knew every major underwriter in the City of London."
"He joined a firm specialising in freight broking at the Port of Rotterdam."
"The city's broking houses flourished during the commodity boom."
'Broking' is almost always used as an uncountable mass noun referring to the trade or activity; a plural form is not established in standard usage.
"Insurance broking remains a cornerstone of the London market."
London's Lloyd's insurance market was built on 'broking' long before Wall Street made brokers famous — and the word's roots may lie in an old word for a wine tap.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of broking
Broking is formed from the noun 'broker' with the suffix -ing, denoting the broker's trade or activity. 'Broker' came into English in the late Middle Ages through Anglo-Norman 'brocour'; its further origin is uncertain, but one plausible line connects it to Old French 'brocheor', a dealer in wine drawn from the tap ('broche'). Related forms include 'brokerage', which covers both the business and the commission earned from it.
Related word forms
How broking is actually used
'Broking' is especially common in British commercial English, often appearing in fixed phrases such as 'insurance broking' and 'broking house'. In American English, 'brokerage' is generally preferred for the same idea. The word has a professional, businesslike register and carries no strong positive or negative connotation.
Easily confused with broking
'Brokerage' can mean both the broker's business and the commission charged, while 'broking' refers strictly to the activity or trade itself.