Skip to the word

Added 7 October 2026

bail

/beɪl/ noun

In Latin: vadimōnium Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about bail at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.
He was granted bail for £20000.
Release from imprisonment on payment of such money.
The person providing such payment.

verb

To secure the release of an arrested person by providing bail.
To release a person under such guarantee.
To hand over personal property to be held temporarily by another as a bailment.
to bail cloth to a tailor to be made into a garment; to bail goods to a carrier

verb

To leave or exit abruptly.
With his engine in flames, the pilot had no choice but to bail.
To fail to meet a commitment (to a person). .mw-parser-output .object-usage-tag{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output .deprecated{color:var(--wikt-palette-grey-lime-8,olivedrab)}[with on ‘someone’]

noun

A hoop, ring or handle (especially of a kettle or bucket).
A stall for a cow (or other animal) (usually tethered with a semi-circular hoop).
A hinged bar as a restraint for animals, or on a typewriter.

Origin

From Middle English baille, from the Old French verb bailler (“to deliver or hand over”) and noun bail (“lease”), from Latin bāiulāre (“carry or bear”), from baiulus (“porter; steward”) (English: bailiff).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word