Broker a respectable man (5)
I believe the answer is:
agent
'broker' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'a respectable man' is the wordplay.
'respectable man' becomes 'gent' (gentleman).
'a'+'gent'='AGENT'
(Other definitions for agent that I've seen before include "factor in Scotland" , "Operative" , "Catalyst" , "Double-zero-seven, for example" , "Salesman" .)