# hedge

/ˈhɛdʒ/ (US) · /hˈɛdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hedge
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a row of bushes

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

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

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- Buying gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation.
- The corporation used commodity futures as a hedge to protect itself against the volatile price of jet fuel during the summer months.

### 3. avoiding a firm statement

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

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

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

- Using words like 'maybe' or 'perhaps' is a common hedge in difficult conversations.
- The report was full of hedges, making it nearly impossible to determine if the researchers actually supported the new policy.

### 4. to avoid a direct answer

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- When asked about the budget cuts, the manager hedged and talked about general goals instead.
- The politician hedged during the interview, refusing to give a simple yes or no answer to the question about tax increases.

### 5. to limit risk

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- The gardener trims the hedge every summer.
- A tall green hedge separates our backyard from the busy street outside.
- The estate was bordered by an ancient hawthorn hedge that had grown so thick it served as an impenetrable natural barrier for centuries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.