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

Leaving the group: The study comes at a time when some large banks are pulling out of high-commitment climate pledges and Republican backlash grows against investing strategies that evaluate stocks using environmental, social and governance factors. —Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Those taking the pledge commit to making conscious choices to reduce personal plastic consumption, engaging in or supporting clean-up initiatives, and advocating for eco-friendly alternatives. —Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024

Lawyers had hoped for a decisive win for all three cases in the Strasbourg court that could ripple across the continent and set a legal precedent that governments must commit to climate change pledges. —Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

While Oregon has thrived in the Evergreen State in recent years, the Huskies changed the plot by heading into the Beaver State for their first pledge. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

The pledge was made at the leaders’ summit held in Woodside, California, last year on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. —Zeke Miller, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

Companies made pledges about racial equity, crafted entire units to diversify their workforce and invested financially in the interests of minority communities. —Kendrick Marshall, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2024

In the final days, the teams have come forward with community benefits pledges and have announced lease deals with the county sports complex authority. —The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024

Her players reflect her sunny disposition while being as controversial as a pledge drive for underprivileged children. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024

Verb

Trump has pledged to pardon Capitol riot defendants, including those who assaulted police. —Spencer Hsu, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

The Biden administration, which has now pledged $300 million for the security force, is also still at odds with skeptical GOP lawmakers over money for the mission. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024

Several mayors have unsuccessfully pledged to mend the resulting racial and economic disparities. —Camille Baker, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Israel's military has pledged an investigation by an independent, professional and expert body. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

The foundation has also pledged to cover the replacement costs for additional youth who take advantage of the fresh start program. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024

Ukraine also has been getting the last few hundred thousand of those million shells the European Union pledged last year. —David Axe, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

The high school’s school site council — made up of parents, teachers, students and administrators — pledged to do better and establish a clear and welcoming policy for nonbinary and transgender students. —Molly Gibbs, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024

Kenya has pledged to send 1,000 troops to coordinate a U.N.-backed alliance, but the plan is now on hold. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024

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