1
2
: a means of protection or defense (as against financial loss)
realization that common stocks are the best hedge against inflation—
C. E. Merrill
C. E. Merrill3
: a calculatedly noncommittal or evasive statement
bureaucratic literature … festooned with hedges and qualifications—Fortune
Fortune
hedged; hedging
1
: to enclose or protect with or as if with a dense row of shrubs or low trees : to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge (see hedge entry 1 sense 1a) : encircle
homes hedged with boxwoods
2
: to confine so as to prevent freedom of movement or action : to obstruct with or as if with a barrier : hinder
hedged about by special regulations and statutes—Sandi Rosenbloom
Sandi Rosenbloom3
: to protect oneself from losing or failing by a counterbalancing action
hedge a bet
1
: to plant, form, or trim a hedge
2
: to evade the risk of commitment especially by leaving open a way of retreat : trim
hedged on the issue
3
: to protect oneself financially
—usually used with against
in order to hedge against inflation—George Katona
: such as
George Katona
a
: to buy or sell commodity futures (see future entry 2 sense 3) as a protection against loss due to price fluctuation
b
: to minimize the risk of a bet
hedger
noun
1
: of, relating to, or designed for a hedge (see hedge entry 1)
a hedge plant
hedge selling on the commodity exchanges
2
: born, living, or made alongside or as if alongside a dense row of shrubs or low trees : born, living, or made near or as if near hedges (see hedge entry 1 sense 1a) : roadside
the services of a hedge parson
a hedge wedding
3
: inferior sense 1
a hedge tavern
Synonyms
Examples of hedge in a Sentence
Noun
the messenger was confronted with a hedge of spears held aloft by the castle guards
Verb
The garden is hedged by flowering shrubs.
She hedged when she was asked to support the campaign.
He hedged his earlier comments about the need for new management.
Recent Examples on the Web
Frank Holmes, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Perched atop a ridge amid a roughly half-acre parcel of land, the stone, glass, and redwood structure is tucked away behind gates and high hedges and fronted by a spacious motorcourt with room for up to nine vehicles.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2024
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
While OpenAI is a central part of Microsoft’s growth strategy, the company has been hedging its bets after integrating OpenAI’s models into several products and acting as the startup’s exclusive cloud infrastructure provider.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2024
REITs, on the other hand, hedge inflation and pay dividends.
—Jim Osman, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hedge 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Nevertheless, the writing is clearly on the wall: Ballooning U.S. debt and geopolitical tensions all point to the need for a strong hedge.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Perched atop a ridge amid a roughly half-acre parcel of land, the stone, glass, and redwood structure is tucked away behind gates and high hedges and fronted by a spacious motorcourt with room for up to nine vehicles.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
Like a veteran high roller playing the odds, indie film execs crowding the new Vegas venue at the Palms Casino for this year’s American Film Market are hedging their bets.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
While OpenAI is a central part of Microsoft’s growth strategy, the company has been hedging its bets after integrating OpenAI’s models into several products and acting as the startup’s exclusive cloud infrastructure provider.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Nature's winter forecast:From hedge apples to acorns, what to look for in nature to predict winter weather
Do woolly bear caterpillars forecast winter weather?
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2024
REITs, on the other hand, hedge inflation and pay dividends.
—Jim Osman, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hedge
Dictionary Entries Near hedge
Cite this Entry
“Hedge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hedge. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hedge
1 of 2 noun1
: a boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees
2
hedge
2 of 2 verb
hedged; hedging
1
: to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge
2
: to block with or as if with a barrier
hedged in by restrictions
3
: to avoid giving a direct or exact answer or promise
hedged when asked to support the campaign
hedger
noun
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