ledge

American  

[lej] / lɛdʒ /

noun

1. a relatively narrow, projecting part, as a horizontal, shelflike projection on a wall or a raised edge on a tray.

2. a more or less flat shelf of rock protruding from a cliff or slope.

3. a reef, ridge, or line of rocks in the sea or other body of water.

4. Mining.

   1. a layer or mass of rock underground.

   2. a lode or vein.

5. Carpentry. a member similar to but larger than a cleat.

6. Shipbuilding. a minor transverse deck beam running between regular deck beams to form part of a coaming.

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verb (used with object)

ledged, ledging

1. to assemble (a door or the like) with ledges.

ledge British  

/ lɛdʒ /

noun

1. a narrow horizontal surface resembling a shelf and projecting from a wall, window, etc

2. a layer of rock that contains an ore; vein

3. a ridge of rock that lies beneath the surface of the sea

4. a narrow shelflike rock projection on a cliff or mountain

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Other Word Forms

• ledgeless adjective
• ledgy adjective
• unledged adjective

Etymology

Origin of ledge

1300–50; Middle English legge, perhaps derivative of leggen to lay ¹; compare Middle High German legge layer, edge, Old English lecg part of a weapon

Example Sentences

This laid-back, cafe-laden ledge is located above the beaches and ancient ramparts where the Douro River pours through its last, lovely tributaries into the Atlantic Ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Blake Gwinn and Izaac Brook of RBC Capital Markets said Warsh’s authority would erode quickly if he went too far out on a ledge.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 30, 2026

Yet collectively they suggest a frieze on an antique sarcophagus, aligned on the rosy ledge across the bottom of the painting, their heads forming a horizontal row with that of Jesus.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The boy and his group of friends were jumping off a six-metre rock ledge at Shark Beach, in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, when the attack happened on Sunday.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

Close to our ledge, a burning branch bounces off rock, falls.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Related Words

• berm
• ridge
• rim
• sill