Illustration of martingale
- martingale 1
martingale
noun
mar·tin·gale
ˈmär-tᵊn-ˌgāl 
-tiŋ-
1
: a device for steadying a horse's head or checking its upward movement that typically consists of a strap fastened to the girth, passing between the forelegs, and bifurcating to end in two rings through which the reins pass
2
a
: a lower stay of rope or chain for the jibboom used to sustain the strain of the forestays and fastened to or rove through the dolphin striker
b
3
: any of several systems of betting in which a player increases the stake usually by doubling each time a bet is lost
Examples of martingale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No matter how far a market runs in one direction, the system avoids the catastrophic drawdowns often associated with grid or martingale approaches.
—
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 1 Oct. 2025
Unlike the martingale betting strategy, the Kelly criterion works in practice and proves its worth as a mainstay of quantitative finance.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2023
Things to Consider When Buying a Dog Training Collar
Type
As Nave-Powers explains, there are a few types of dog training collars, including shock collars, prongs, choke chains, slip collars, martingales, electronic collars, and pagers, like the Petrainer Dog Training Collar.
—Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 17 July 2023
But it’s a party in back with a low martingale (a sort of strap) that gives it a gathered look.
—Marisa Meltzer, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2023
For the test, dogs may wear buckle, slip, or martingale collars with leashes made of fabric webbing or leather, and owners supply a comb or brush.
—Iris Katz, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 20 Mar. 2021
In a matter of seconds, the martingale could deliver dizzying jackpots or, equally as often, ruination.
—Frederick Kaufman, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2021
Also referred to as a limited- or no-slip collars, a martingale is designed to constrict when a dog pulls on its leash, but never so tightly as to cause harm when properly fitted.
—Cindy Cantrell, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2021
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Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 1 Oct. 2025
Unlike the martingale betting strategy, the Kelly criterion works in practice and proves its worth as a mainstay of quantitative finance.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2023
Things to Consider When Buying a Dog Training Collar
Type
As Nave-Powers explains, there are a few types of dog training collars, including shock collars, prongs, choke chains, slip collars, martingales, electronic collars, and pagers, like the Petrainer Dog Training Collar.
—Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 17 July 2023
But it’s a party in back with a low martingale (a sort of strap) that gives it a gathered look.
—Marisa Meltzer, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2023
For the test, dogs may wear buckle, slip, or martingale collars with leashes made of fabric webbing or leather, and owners supply a comb or brush.
—Iris Katz, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 20 Mar. 2021
In a matter of seconds, the martingale could deliver dizzying jackpots or, equally as often, ruination.
—Frederick Kaufman, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2021
Also referred to as a limited- or no-slip collars, a martingale is designed to constrict when a dog pulls on its leash, but never so tightly as to cause harm when properly fitted.
—Cindy Cantrell, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Martingale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martingale. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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