hedger
|hed-ger|
🇺🇸
/ˈhɛdʒər/
🇬🇧
/ˈhɛdʒə/
(hedge)
boundary or protection
Etymology
'hedge' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'hecg', where 'hecg' meant 'hedge, fence'. The agentive suffix '-er' was later added in English to form 'hedger' meaning 'one who hedges'.
'hecg' changed into Middle English forms such as 'hegge'/'hedge', and with the addition of the agentive suffix '-er' in later Middle/Modern English the word became 'hedger' to denote an agent (one who makes or tends a hedge, or one who hedges).
Initially, 'hedge' referred to a physical fence or boundary; over time it developed figurative meanings such as 'to limit or protect (exposure)', especially in finance. Consequently, 'hedger' came to mean both a person who works on hedges and, by extension, someone who reduces financial risk.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or firm that uses financial instruments (such as futures, options, swaps) to reduce or manage exposure to price or risk (a risk–reducing market participant).
As a hedger, the company used futures contracts to protect itself against falling commodity prices.
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Noun 2
a person who plants, trims, or maintains hedges (a gardener or groundskeeper who tends hedgerows or fences of shrubs).
The hedger trimmed the privet hedge before spring growth started.
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Noun 3
a person who avoids committing to a firm position or uses evasive language (someone who hedges in speech or action).
He's a hedger who always answers interview questions with vague replies.
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Last updated: 2026/01/03 20:43