A broker is a person who helps others buy or sell things, especially when the transaction is complicated or when the buyer and seller don't know each other. Real estate brokers help people buy and sell houses, connecting sellers with potential buyers and guiding everyone through mountains of paperwork. Stock brokers help people buy and sell shares of companies on the stock market. Insurance brokers help families find the right insurance policies for their needs.

Brokers earn money by taking a commission, which is a percentage of the sale price, or by charging fees for their services. They're valuable because they understand complex markets and regulations that ordinary people don't deal with every day. A good broker knows how to negotiate, understands what a fair price is, and can spot problems that an inexperienced person might miss.

The word can also be used as a verb: to broker a deal means to arrange an agreement between two parties. A teacher might broker a compromise between two students who disagree about how to divide up a group project. Diplomats broker peace agreements between countries. In this sense, brokering means bringing people together and helping them reach an agreement that works for everyone involved.