pledge

1 of 2

noun

ˈplej 

1

a

: a bailment of a chattel as security for a debt or other obligation without involving transfer of title

b

: the chattel so delivered

c

: the contract incidental to such a bailment

2

a

: the state of being held as a security or guaranty

b

: something given as security for the performance of an act

3

: a token, sign, or earnest of something else

4

: a gage of battle

5

: toast sense 2a

6

a

: a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear

b(1)

: a promise to join a fraternity, sorority, or secret society

(2)

: a person who has so promised

pledge

2 of 2

verb

pledged; pledging

transitive verb

1

: to make a pledge of

especially : pawn

2

: to drink to the health of

3

: to bind by a pledge

4

: to promise the performance of by a pledge

pledger

ˈple-jər 

noun

or pledgor

ˈple-jər 

ple-ˈjȯr

Synonyms

Noun

• gage
• guarantee
• guaranty
• pawn
• security

Verb

• commit
• engage
• mortgage
• troth

Examples of pledge in a Sentence

Noun

He has promised to fulfill a campaign pledge to cut taxes.

To make a pledge or donation, please call the charity's office.

The company has made a pledge of over $3,000.

He left his car as a pledge that he would return with the money.

Verb

Her family pledged $100,000 toward the construction of a new school.

He called to pledge money to the charity.

Every morning, we pledge allegiance to the flag.

teenagers who have pledged not to start smoking

During his campaign, he pledged that he would not raise taxes.

The chefs are pledged to keep the restaurant's special recipe a secret.

He pledged his paintings as collateral for a loan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Shoot-for-the-moon pledges are still the right strategy according to the American Chamber of Commerce’s Solomon — whether each dollar comes through over the next several years is a matter that can be dealt with later. —Natasha Turak, CNBC, 16 May 2025

The second initiative was a $68-million pledge for Google to fund artificial intelligence in the form of a National AI Accelerator. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025

Verb

To remedy the lack of fresh food, some municipalities have pledged part of their state grocery tax revenues to attract grocery stores, and are contractually obligated to come up with the money whether the state provides it or not. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2025

This has changed since the last general election, with mayor Andy Street losing to Labour candidate Parker, who pledged to redevelop Witton Station in his manifesto. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English plegge, plege "surety for a person, guarantor," borrowed from Anglo-French (also continental Old & Middle French plege, pleige), going back to early Medieval Latin plebium, plevium, plibium, noun derivative (with the Latin deverbal suffix -ium) of plebere "to give surety," probably blend of Latin praebeō, praebēre "to put forward, offer, provide" and an Old Low Franconian verb *plegan- cognate with Old Saxon plegan "to accept responsibility (for)," Middle Dutch pleghen "to look after," Old High German pflegan "to look (after), bear responsibility, vouch (for)" — more at plight entry 2

Note: The verb plebere, attested in the Lex Romana Curiensis (eighth century), was vernacularized as Old French/Anglo-French plevir "to give as surety, promise, swear," with conjugation change probably after garantir "to protect, warrant" (see warrant entry 2) and garir "to support, protect, cure" (see garrison entry 1); compare replevin entry 1.

Verb

Middle English pleggen "to promise, stand surety for," in part derivative of plegge, plege pledge entry 1; in part borrowed from Anglo-French pleger "to guarantee as surety, act as surety," derivative of plege pledge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pledge

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

Kids Definition

pledge

1 of 2 noun

ˈplej 

1

: the handing over of something to another to assure that the giver will keep his or her promise

also : the thing handed over

2

: the state of being held as a security

given in pledge

3

: something that is a token or sign of something else

the ring is a pledge of love

4

: toast entry 2 sense 3

5

: a promise or agreement that must be kept

pledge

2 of 2 verb

pledged; pledging

1

: to give as a pledge

2

: to drink to the health of : toast entry 3

3

: to obligate by a pledge

pledged myself to give $50

4

: to promise by a pledge

pledge money to charity

Legal Definition

pledge

1 of 2 noun

ˈplej 

1

: a delivery of especially personal property as security for a debt or other obligation

broadly : the perfection of a security interest in collateral through possession of the collateral by a creditor or other promisee

2

a

: property and especially personal property that is used as security especially upon delivery

broadly : a security interest in collateral compare chattel mortgage at mortgage

b

: a contract under which the delivery of property (as personal property) as security takes place

3

a

: the state of being held as security or guaranty

property held in pledge

b

: something given as security for the performance of an act

4

: a binding promise to do or forbear

pledge

2 of 2 transitive verb

pledged; pledging

1

: to deliver or otherwise put forward as security for a debt or other obligation

pledged his car as collateral for the loan

2

: to bind by a pledge

we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor

—Declaration of Independence

3

: to assure or promise the performance or payment of

pledgor

ˈple-jər, ple-ˈjȯr 

noun

or pledger

ˈple-jər