What does "badge" mean?
A distinctive mark, token, sign, emblem or cognizance, worn on one’s clothing, as an insignia of some rank, or of the membership of an organization.
Badge
/bæd͡ʒ/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A distinctive mark, token, sign, emblem or cognizance, worn on one’s clothing, as an insignia of some rank, or of the membership of an organization.
- Grammar: badge is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: emblem, accolade, advanced course label, armbands.
- Useful contrasts: ignore, no affiliation, no award.
- Usage evidence: Each boy student has a school badge on his cap.
How to use "badge"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "badge" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "badge" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "badge" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "badge" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "badge" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "emblem" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "badge", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A distinctive mark, token, sign, emblem or cognizance, worn on one’s clothing, as an insignia of some rank, or of the membership of an organization.
"the badge of a society; the badge of a policeman"
- 2 any feature that is regarded as a sign of status (a particular power or quality or rank) wordnet
- 3 A small nameplate, identifying the wearer, and often giving additional information.
- 4 an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.) wordnet
- 5 A card, sometimes with a barcode or magnetic strip, granting access to a certain area.
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 Something characteristic; a mark; a token.
"Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge."
- 7 A brand on the hand of a thief, etc. obsolete
"He has got his badge, and piked."
- 8 A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel, containing a window or the representation of one.
- 9 A distinctive mark worn by servants, retainers, and followers of royalty or nobility, who, being beneath the rank of gentlemen, have no right to armorial bearings.
- 10 A small overlay on an icon that shows additional information about that item, such as the number of new alerts or messages.
- 11 An icon or emblem awarded to a user for some achievement. Internet
"When you have checked in to the site from ten different cities, you unlock the Traveller badge."
- 12 A police officer. slang
"That's why every badge back home wanted to nail him."
Verb
- 1 To mark or distinguish with a badge. transitive
"The television was badged as ‘GE’, but wasn’t made by them."
- 2 put a badge on wordnet
- 3 To show a badge to. transitive
"He calmed down a lot when the policeman badged him."
- 4 To enter a restricted area by showing one’s badge. ambitransitive
"Worden and James walk […] to the […] Courthouse […], where they badge their way past sheriff’s deputies and take the elevator to the third floor."
Antonyms
Example
"Each boy student has a school badge on his cap."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "badge"?
Common synonyms include: emblem, accolade, advanced course label, armbands, armory, aroma.
How do you use "badge" in a sentence?
Each boy student has a school badge on his cap.
How do you pronounce "badge"?
Pronounced /bæd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
From Middle English badge, bagge, bage, bagy, from Anglo-Norman bage or Medieval Latin bagea, bagia (“sign, emblem”), of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from Medieval Latin baga (“ring”), from Old Saxon bāg, bōg (“ring, ornament”), from Proto-Germanic *baugaz (“ring, bracelet, armband”); or possibly the Anglo-Norman word is derived from an earlier, unattested English word (compare Old English bēag (“ring, bracelet, collar, crown”). Cognate with Scots bagie, badgie, bawgy (“badge”).