What does "baton" mean?
A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
Baton
/ˈbætɒn/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
- Grammar: baton is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: wand, rod, achievement, alerion.
- Usage evidence: The band played marvellously under the baton of a new conductor.
How to use "baton"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "baton" 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 "baton" 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 "baton" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "baton" 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 "baton" is acting as noun, verb 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 "wand" 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 "baton", 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 staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
- 2 a thin tapered rod used by a conductor to lead an orchestra or choir wordnet
- 3 A ceremonial staff of a field marshal or a similar high-ranking military office.
- 4 a hollow cylinder passed from runner to runner in a relay race wordnet
- 5 The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
"The conductor raised his baton and the orchestra fell silent."
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 a hollow metal rod that is wielded or twirled by a drum major or drum majorette wordnet
- 7 An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
"In the relay race, the runner dropped the baton."
- 8 a short staff carried by some officials to symbolize an office or an authority wordnet
- 9 A rod twirled in a marching band's performance, in a gymnastic sport, or in juggling.
- 10 a short stout club used primarily by policemen wordnet
- 11 A short stout club used primarily by policemen. US
"The police officer carried a baton for self-defense."
- 12 A bend with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, typically borne sinister, and often used as a mark of cadency, initially for both legitimate and illegitimate children, but later chiefly for illegitimate children.
"Alternative forms: batune, baston"
- 13 A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.
- 14 A batonnet, a long slice of a vegetable, thicker than a julienne.
- 15 A short baguette.
Verb
- 1 To strike with a baton. figuratively, transitive
"She passed the baton to her successor after retiring."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The band played marvellously under the baton of a new conductor."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "baton"?
Common synonyms include: wand, rod, achievement, alerion, alpenstock, animal charge.
How do you use "baton" in a sentence?
The band played marvellously under the baton of a new conductor.
How do you pronounce "baton"?
Pronounced /ˈbætɒn/.
Etymology
From French bâton. Doublet of baston.