hedge

1 of 3

noun

1
a
: a fence or boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees
b
: barrier, limit
pikemen … present a hedge of metal points from which any cavalry would flinchTom Wintringham
regarded it as the main function of their existence to raise a hedge around the lawF. W. Farrar
2
: a means of protection or defense (as against financial loss)
realization that common stocks are the best hedge against inflationC. E. Merrill
3
: a calculatedly noncommittal or evasive statement
bureaucratic literature … festooned with hedges and qualificationsFortune

hedge

2 of 3

verb

hedged; hedging

transitive verb

1
: to enclose or protect with or as if with a dense row of shrubs or low trees : to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge (see hedge entry 1 sense 1a) : encircle
homes hedged with boxwoods
2
: to confine so as to prevent freedom of movement or action : to obstruct with or as if with a barrier : hinder
hedged about by special regulations and statutesSandi Rosenbloom
3
: to protect oneself from losing or failing by a counterbalancing action
hedge a bet

intransitive verb

1
: to plant, form, or trim a hedge
2
: to evade the risk of commitment especially by leaving open a way of retreat : trim
hedged on the issue
3
: to protect oneself financially
usually used with against
in order to hedge against inflationGeorge Katona
: such as
a
: to buy or sell commodity futures (see future entry 2 sense 3) as a protection against loss due to price fluctuation
b
: to minimize the risk of a bet
hedger noun
hedgingly adverb

hedge

3 of 3

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or designed for a hedge (see hedge entry 1)
a hedge plant
hedge selling on the commodity exchanges
2
: born, living, or made alongside or as if alongside a dense row of shrubs or low trees : born, living, or made near or as if near hedges (see hedge entry 1 sense 1a) : roadside
the services of a hedge parson
a hedge wedding
3
: inferior sense 1
a hedge tavern

Examples of hedge in a Sentence

Noun the messenger was confronted with a hedge of spears held aloft by the castle guards Verb The garden is hedged by flowering shrubs. She hedged when she was asked to support the campaign. He hedged his earlier comments about the need for new management.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Ineligible are all palm varieties, woody plants used to create hedges, weeping trees with soft branches that touch the ground, certain invasive species and trees that don’t provide sufficient shade or are pruned to reduce their canopy, according to the district. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 This would enable the BOJ to nudge rates higher without undermining the economy and stock market, and international investors could lift currency hedges then. Nick Sargen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 At the front of the house is a small patio concealed by a tall hedge. Sandra Barrera, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2024 Outside the home is a three-car garage with side-sliding doors and landscaping filled with leafy hedges and mature trees. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024 That’s true of Bitcoin, too, which, in its brief life since its inception during the financial crisis of 2008-9, has not been an effective inflation hedge. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024 The entire property is invisible from the public road behind tall hedges and trees, although from its hillside perch the house has great views over the bustling Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, and beyond. James McClain, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2024 Gold has traditionally performed well during periods of economic turbulence, earning a reputation as an inflation hedge. Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2023 Exercise comes in for many of the same hedges and caveats. Markham Heid, TIME, 9 Feb. 2024
Verb
Just the suggestion that the United States could not be depended on would negate the value of such alliances, prompt longtime friends to hedge and perhaps align with other powers, and embolden the likes of Mr. Putin and Xi Jinping of China. Peter Baker, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 In a baseball world where the smaller market clubs have increasingly embraced the ongoing Tampa Bay style of year-over-year roster churn, of trading soon-to-be expiring assets for younger, cheaper ones, of always hedging on the present for the sake of the future, the Brewers are embracing the now. Journal Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2024 Even close allies such as Israel and Japan would have to reassess their dependence on the United States, and more and more states would have to hedge their bets. Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 For those companies hedging their bets on consumers seeking out this technology on smartphones and paying more for it, Farrar said historically that hasn’t worked. San Diego Union Tribune, Orange County Register, 16 Feb. 2024 In the past, Fox’s defender would be able to hedge off him, knowing Fox wasn’t a lethal 3-point threat like he’s become this year, and gum up the action. Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 Chinese leader Xi Jinping isn’t about to abandon that relationship, especially when Mr. Kim has been hedging his diplomatic options by drawing closer to Russia. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Jan. 2024 The difference is Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni hedged his bet by hiring Matt Patricia to look over Desai’s shoulder as a defensive consultant. John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 Unlike Schiff and Lee, who each took firm positions in support or opposition of aid to the Israeli army, Porter hedged. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024
Adjective
REITs, on the other hand, hedge inflation and pay dividends. Jim Osman, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 The Musketeers even tried to hard-hedge Georgetown's ball screens to slow Spears down. Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2023 Unlike internet sites that are popular with the general public, hedge funds and institutions receive option data differently. Jonathan Stone, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022 Research mazes were once modeled after elaborate paths like the one at Hampton Court, a stately hedge maze in the United Kingdom commissioned in 1700. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2018 The Facebook post also contained photos of items associated with Brad including a bottle of perfume, gloves, what appeared to be hedge clippers, a syringe, and a container with a plastic baggy containing unknown contents. Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2022 The meteoric rise comes amid an ongoing bear market that has left most hedge funds in a bad spot. Will Daniel, Fortune, 6 July 2022 Goldman Sachs analysts recently said that mutual and hedge funds are conservatively positioned. Gunjan Banerji, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Now two years after his death, his parents, Angel Jaquez, 71, and Janis Jaquez, 61, reminisced about their son in a sit-down interview with The Courant in their backyard surrounded by flowerpots and a hedge fence. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hedge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hegge, heyg "fence formed by a row of shrubs, bush, underbrush," going back to Old English *hecg "fence formed by shrubs, boundary fence," attested in dative hegge, hecge (also Old English hecge, weak feminine noun, in same sense), going back to Germanic *hagjō (whence also Middle Dutch hegghe "hedge," Old High German hegga "palisade," Middle High German hegge, hecke "hedge"), derivative of a base *hag- "enclosure formed by shrubs" — more at haw entry 1

Verb

Middle English heggen, hedgyn "to make a hedge, fence in with a hedge," derivative of hegge, heyg hedge entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of hedge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hedge was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hedge

Cite this Entry

“Hedge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hedge. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hedge

1 of 2 noun
1
: a boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees
2

hedge

2 of 2 verb
hedged; hedging
1
: to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge
2
: to block with or as if with a barrier
hedged in by restrictions
3
: to avoid giving a direct or exact answer or promise
hedged when asked to support the campaign
hedger noun

Legal Definition

hedge

intransitive verb
ˈhej
hedged; hedging
: to reduce possible losses in speculative transactions by engaging in offsetting transactions (as futures trading)

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