What does "badger" mean?
Any mammal belonging to the genera Meles, Arctonyx, Mellivora and Taxidea.
Badger
/ˈbæd͡ʒə/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any mammal belonging to the genera Meles, Arctonyx, Mellivora and Taxidea.
- Grammar: badger is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: accosting, aggravate, animal, annoy.
- Useful contrasts: acquiesce, calm person, ignore.
- Usage evidence: A man of weak will is the target of criticism; even his friends would badger him into correcting his defects.
How to use "badger"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "badger" 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 "badger" 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 "badger" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "badger" 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 "badger" is acting as name, 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 "accosting" 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 "badger", 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 Any mammal belonging to the genera Meles, Arctonyx, Mellivora and Taxidea.
- 2 An itinerant licensed dealer in commodities used for food; a hawker; a huckster; -- formerly applied especially to one who bought grain in one place and sold it in another. obsolete
- 3 A native or resident of the American state of Wisconsin.
- 4 A child member of the St John Ambulance medical volunteering organisation.
"She was also a leader, trainer and supervisor of the children's arm of St John's Ambulance (“the Badgers”). She worked over 50 hours a year but received no salary and was not required to attend events."
- 5 sturdy carnivorous burrowing mammal with strong claws; widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere wordnet
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A native or resident of the American state, Wisconsin.
- 7 a native or resident of Wisconsin wordnet
- 8 A brush made of badger hair. obsolete
- 9 A gang of robbers who robbed near rivers, into which they threw the bodies of those they murdered. in-plural, obsolete
- 10 A person who is very fond of cricket. slang
Verb
- 1 To pester; to annoy persistently; to press. transitive
"He kept badgering her about her bad habits."
- 2 persuade through constant efforts wordnet
- 3 annoy persistently wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A village in Shropshire, England.
- 2 A town in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
- 3 A habitational surname from Old English.
Example
"A man of weak will is the target of criticism; even his friends would badger him into correcting his defects."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "badger"?
Common synonyms include: accosting, aggravate, animal, annoy, annoyed, antelope.
How do you use "badger" in a sentence?
A man of weak will is the target of criticism; even his friends would badger him into correcting his defects.
How do you pronounce "badger"?
Pronounced /ˈbæd͡ʒə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English bageard (“marked by a badge”), from bage (“badge”), referring to the animal's badge-like white blaze, equivalent to badge + -ard. Displaced earlier brock, from Old English brocc.
Etymology 2
Unknown (Possibly from "bagger". "Baggier" is cited by the OED in 1467-8)
Etymology 3
See Badger State.
Etymology 4
From Old English *Bæcg (“a personal name”) + ofer (“hill spur”). The name of the town in Newfoundland likely derives from the surname of one of its first inhabitants.
Etymology 5
From badger, the animal.