broker-dealer definition
DEFINITION of 'Broker-Dealer'. A person or firm in the business of buying and selling securities, operating as both a broker and a dealer, depending on the transaction.The term broker-dealer is used in U.S. securities regulation parlance to describe stock brokerages, because most of them act as both agents and principals.A brokerage acts as a broker (or agent) when it executes orders on behalf of clients, whereas it acts as a dealer (or principal) when it trades for its own account. brokerage acts as a broker (or agent) when it executes orders on behalf of clients, whereas it acts as a dealer (or principal) when it trades for its own account.