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

This initiative supports women entrepreneurs through a $20 million pledge that is used for scholarships and programs through 2030 at top entrepreneurial schools at Babson, MIT, and Stanford, as well as a special Los Angeles school. —Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

During a press conference with Zelensky, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said his country would make good on its pledge to become the largest supplier of the fighter jets to Ukraine. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

Verb

In the end, the several dozen men gathered in the centuries-old house to pledge their allegiance to Shoufi's militia, whooping and singing while performing a battle version of a celebratory dance. —Jane Arraf, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025

Tim Scott, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has pledged that his organization will support GOP incumbents. —Alex Isenstadt, Axios, 8 Apr. 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