ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hedge

n. · v.
US //ˈhɛdʒ// UK //hˈɛdʒ// hedge
  1. 1 a row of bushes (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a row of bushes or small trees planted close together to act as a fence or border.

    a fence or boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees.

    Example

    The gardener spent the afternoon trimming the tall hedge that separates our yard from the street.

    Example

    The property is enclosed by a meticulously maintained boxwood hedge, providing both privacy and a natural windbreak for the delicate flowers in the garden.
  2. 2 financial protection (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Finance

    an investment or action intended to protect you against losing money if prices change.

    a financial arrangement or investment designed to offset potential losses from price fluctuations in another asset.

    Example

    Buying gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation.

    Example

    The corporation used commodity futures as a hedge to protect itself against the volatile price of jet fuel during the summer months.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 avoiding a firm statement (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    a word or phrase used to avoid giving a direct answer or making a firm commitment.

    a word or phrase used to lessen the impact of an utterance or to avoid a definitive professional or personal commitment.

    Example

    Using words like 'maybe' or 'perhaps' is a common hedge in difficult conversations.

    Example

    The report was full of hedges, making it nearly impossible to determine if the researchers actually supported the new policy.
  2. 4 to avoid a direct answer (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to avoid giving a clear or direct answer to a question.

    to avoid making a definitive statement or commitment; to be intentionally noncommittal.

    Example

    When asked about the budget cuts, the manager hedged and talked about general goals instead.

    Example

    The politician hedged during the interview, refusing to give a simple yes or no answer to the question about tax increases.
  3. 5 to limit risk (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Finance

    to protect yourself against a loss by betting on or investing in different things.

    to reduce the risk of a wager or investment by making counterbalancing transactions.

    Example

    She decided to hedge her bets by applying to several different types of jobs.

    Example

    By diversifying the portfolio across international markets, the fund manager sought to hedge against a potential downturn in the domestic economy.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'hedge your bets'.
Etymology 1

From Middle English hegge, from Old English heċġ, from Proto-West Germanic haggju, from Proto-Germanic hagjō, from Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (“enclosure”). Cognate with Dutch heg, German Hecke. Doublet of hey (a choreographic figure) and quay. More at haw.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English heggen, from the noun (see above).

Word family
Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference