wager

[wey-jer]

noun

1. something risked or staked on an uncertain event; bet.

   to place a wager on a soccer match.

   Synonyms: risk, hazard, stake

2. the act of betting.

3. the subject or terms of a bet.

4. Early English Law.,  a pledge to make good one's cause by the supporting oaths of others or by battle.

verb (used with object)

1. to risk (something) on the outcome of a contest or any uncertain event or matter; bet.

   Synonyms: venture, stake

2. History/Historical.,  to pledge oneself to (battle) for the decision of a cause.

verb (used without object)

1. to make or offer a wager; bet.

wager

/ ˈweɪdʒə /

noun

1. an agreement or pledge to pay an amount of money as a result of the outcome of an unsettled matter

2. an amount staked on the outcome of such a matter or event

3. (in medieval Britain) a pledge to do battle for a cause, esp to decide guilt or innocence by single combat

4. English legal history a form of trial in which the accused offered to make oath of his innocence, supported by the oaths of 11 of his neighbours declaring their belief in his statements

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to risk or bet (something) on the outcome of an unsettled matter

2. (tr) history to pledge oneself to (battle)

Other Word Forms

• wagerer noun
• rewager verb
• superwager noun
• unwagered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wager¹

1275–1325; Middle English wajour, wager solemn pledge < Anglo-French wageure, equivalent to wage ( r ) to pledge ( wage ) + -ure -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of wager¹

C14: from Anglo-French wageure a pledge, from Old Northern French wagier to pledge; see _wage

Example Sentences

Investors are wagering on the price of bitcoin and piling into ultrarisky types of options, such as the “zero-day” variety that expire rapidly and require perfect timing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Kalshi is allowing its users to place their wagers on the Chiefs or Cowboys by buying an event contract built on a yes-or-no question.

Read more on MarketWatch

The idea is to take the tax hit now on the wager of avoiding more taxes later.

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The machine was included in Christie's auction of the library of the late Catalonia collector Léon Parcé, which also featured Pascal's philosophical piece Pensées and the first printed version of "Pascal's wager".

Read more on BBC

The NBA recently instituted similar limits on prop wagers for two-way contract players, and the NFL reiterated its efforts to limit or prohibit certain prop bets.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• gamble 
• put up 
• speculate