pledge

1 of 2

noun

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
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 noun
or pledgor
ˈple-jər How to pronounce pledge (audio)
ple-ˈjȯr

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
More on how Hobbs' pledge to work with any lawmaker on behalf of Arizonans is headed for another test. The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024 Mass deportations Trump’s pledge to create the largest deportation force in U.S. history has taken center stage in the transition period, with incoming border czar Tom Homan making frequent media appearances to tout the policy. Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
Calling themselves the Tech Against Scams coalition, the companies pledged to share scammer information with each other and better educate users. Kevin Collier, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024 Authorities also alleged that five Adani executives and unnamed conspirators involved in the scheme pledged to destroy or hide documents or provide false information to the U.S. government in connection with the investigation. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pledge 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pledge was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pledge

Cite this Entry

“Pledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pledge. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pledge

1 of 2 noun
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
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
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 honorDeclaration of Independence
3
: to assure or promise the performance or payment of
pledgor noun
or pledger

More from Merriam-Webster on pledge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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