1. plural of pawnee: people who have given property as security for a loan
Usage: legal; formal
2. members of a Native American people originally of Nebraska and Kansas
Usage: proper noun when capitalized

Examples

• The pawnees lined up at the shop to reclaim their jewelry.
• Several pawnees defaulted on their loans last month.
• The pawnees were required to show identification to retrieve their items.
• Many pawnees use these services during financial emergencies.
• The Pawnees were skilled hunters and farmers on the Great Plains.
• Historical records document the Pawnees’ complex social structure.