ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a raised or projecting edge or molding intended to protect or check

a window ledge

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

a

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that projects from a wall of rock

We rappelled down the cliff and reached the ledge.

b

: rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges : bedrock

the field was full of ledge

4

: lode, vein

ledgy

ˈle-jē 

adjective

Examples of ledge in a Sentence

birds perched on the ledge of a building

a ledge on the side of the mountain

Recent Examples on the Web

Often packed together, these nesting cells can be found on windowsills, on bases of slider doors and on upper window ledges. —Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026

Dress up your patio, display them as a centerpiece on your outdoor dining table, or prop them on a ledge for instant color and fragrance. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 May 2026

When a woman was seated on the ledge of a high-rise building in Brooklyn, our officers quickly responded, using their training to save her life. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026

Features community members hope to see include smaller, beginner-level features and low-impact features and ledges, a smaller beginner stair set and better flat bars. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English legge bar of a gate

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ledge

• dredge
• edge
• hedge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge
• allege
• straightedge

Kids Definition

ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a projecting ridge or raised edge along a surface

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that sticks out from a wall of rock