ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a raised or projecting edge or molding intended to protect or check

a window ledge

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

a

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that projects from a wall of rock

We rappelled down the cliff and reached the ledge.

b

: rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges : bedrock

the field was full of ledge

4

: lode, vein

ledgy

ˈle-jē 

adjective

Examples of ledge in a Sentence

birds perched on the ledge of a building

a ledge on the side of the mountain

Recent Examples on the Web

Use a metal covering or board at a 45-degree angle over ledges where birds like to roost or nest, or use bird spikes that stick out at various angles to prevent birds from landing, says Pierce. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025

Dreame debuted a prototype of a stair-climbing vacuum at IFA last year, showing a robot vacuum with a mobile arm on the bottom that extends to hoist the machine up ledges as high as 6 centimeters. —Adrienne So, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2025

The monkey, perched on a high ledge, has stolen the man's spectacles — by jumping on the man's shoulder and grabbing them. —Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 5 Jan. 2025

Photos and videos of the clash Friday morning showed chaotic scenes with Nationalist members trying to remove or push their way though the barriers of chairs or clamber over a ledge in front of the speaker’s area. —Taijing Wu and Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English legge bar of a gate

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a projecting ridge or raised edge along a surface

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that sticks out from a wall of rock