wager

American  

[wey-jer] / ˈweɪ dʒər /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

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

Etymology

Origin of wager

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

Example Sentences

Robinhood’s prediction markets offering, which allows traders to wager on sports, has emerged as the fastest-growing product line by revenue in the company’s history.

From Barron's

Kalshi and Polymarket are exchanges in their own right, and the wagers their users place are another form of derivatives contact.

From The Wall Street Journal

Polymarket’s rise comes as wagering on sports, bitcoin, elections and just about everything else has grown ubiquitous, and barriers between traditional investments, crypto and gambling are eroding.

From The Wall Street Journal

But some worry about the long-term effects of making betting pervasive, with wagers available on topics as disparate as the Oscars and local temperatures.

From The Wall Street Journal

“These wagers are happening on platforms that, in many cases, operate without proper oversight or safeguards.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gamble
• put up
• speculate