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

Example Sentences

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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The pledge form that Never Back Down PAC requires those who endorse Ron DeSantis to sign. —Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023

In other championship matches: Division II -- Junior Maci Shircel, a Towson University pledge, tallied six goals and Campbell University signee Emily Wilson added four more as Keller defeated Greenhill 15-6, earning its first state title since 2016. —Mike Waters, Dallas News, 14 May 2023

Two charities, the Kendeda Fund and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, have provided most of that money, with respective pledges of $1.5 million and $500,000. —Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 12 May 2023

Infrastructure and trade agreements are expected to be discussed at the upcoming summit to ensure this pledge becomes a reality. —Caitlin Mcfall, Fox News, 8 May 2023

Key Background The pledge struck a nerve amid the monarchy’s declining popularity, particularly among young people. —Conor Murray, Forbes, 5 May 2023

Over the years, there have been many pledges to clean up the LAFD. —Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023

The Russian air force is much larger, while the Ukrainians are yet to receive pledges of any modern Western combat planes. —Tim Lister, CNN, 16 Apr. 2023

The first pledge to do so came under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who said all plants were to be closed by the early 2020s. —Kate Brady, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2023

Verb

Ocean temperatures are off the charts right now, and scientists are alarmed Countries pledged in the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees – and preferably to 1.5 degrees – compared to pre-industrial temperatures. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 17 May 2023

Faced with high levels of worker stress, anxiety and burnout because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies pledged that employee mental health would become a top priority. —Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2023

The legislation, taken as a package, restricts the way race and gender can be taught on university campuses, prohibits students and faculty from having to pledge a commitment to DEI and expands apprenticeship programs. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 16 May 2023

The joint candidate of an alliance of opposition parties, Kılıçdaroğlu has pledged to return the country to a more democratic path. —Henry Austin, NBC News, 15 May 2023

Voters in Thailand overwhelmingly sought to end nearly a decade of military rule on Sunday, casting ballots in favor of two opposition parties that have pledged to curtail the power of the country’s powerful conservative institutions: the military and the monarchy. —Muktita Suhartono, New York Times, 14 May 2023

The congressman is as defiant as ever in pledging and pleading not guilty of 13 charges including wire fraud, money laundering, stealing public funds, and lying to Congress. —ABC News, 14 May 2023

The finance ministers and central bank chiefs ended three days of talks in Niigata, Japan, with a joint statement pledging to bring inflation under control, help countries struggling with onerous debts and strengthen financial systems. —Elaine Kurtenbach, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023

Hamas fighters never joined the conflict, according to Israeli officials, publicly pledging support for Islamic Jihad but remaining on the sidelines while the confrontation decimated the rival group’s leadership and depleted its arsenal. —Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 13 May 2023

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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

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