hedging

hedge  (hj)

n.

1. A row of closely planted shrubs or low-growing trees forming a fence or boundary.

2. A line of people or objects forming a barrier: a hedge of spectators along the sidewalk.

3.

a. A means of protection or defense, especially against financial loss: a hedge against inflation.

b. A securities transaction that reduces the risk on an existing investment position.

4. An intentionally noncommittal or ambiguous statement.

5. A word or phrase, such as possibly or I think, that mitigates or weakens the certainty of a statement.

v. hedged, hedg·ing, hedg·es

v.tr.

1. To enclose or bound with or as if with hedges.

2. To hem in, hinder, or restrict with or as if with a hedge.

3. To minimize or protect against the loss of by counterbalancing one transaction, such as a bet, against another.

v.intr.

1. To plant or cultivate hedges.

2. To take compensatory measures so as to counterbalance possible loss.

3. To avoid making a clear, direct response or statement.

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[Middle English, from Old English hecg.]

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hedger n.

hedgy adj.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	hedging - any technique designed to reduce or eliminate financial risk; for example, taking two positions that will offset each other if prices change hedge security, protection - defense against financial failure; financial independence; "his pension gave him security in his old age"; "insurance provided protection against loss of wages due to illness"
	2.	hedging - an intentionally noncommittal or ambiguous statement; "when you say `maybe' you are just hedging" hedge equivocation, evasion - a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth