tag

1 of 5

noun (1)

plural tags
1
: a loose hanging piece of cloth : tatter
2
: a metal or plastic binding on an end of a shoelace
3
: a piece of hanging or attached material
specifically : a loop, knot, or tassel on a garment
4
a
: a brief quotation used for rhetorical emphasis or sententious effect
b
: a recurrent or characteristic verbal expression
5
a
: a cardboard, plastic, or metal marker used for identification or classification
license tags
b
: a descriptive or identifying epithet
c
: something used for identification or location : flag
e
f
: an element of code in a computer document used especially to control format and layout or to establish a hyperlink
g
: hashtag
… nuns shared their daily lives on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter with the tag #MediaNuns …Elizabeth Bruenig
h
: a string of text (such as the symbol @ followed by a person's username) that is used to tag a person or account in a social media post
While it's impossible to prohibit a friend from tagging you, Facebook allows you to review all tags before they appear on your profile.Lara Webster
6
: a detached fragmentary piece : bit
7
: a graffito in the form of an identifying name or symbol

tag

2 of 5

verb (1)

tagged; tagging; tags

transitive verb

1
: to provide or mark with or as if with a tag: such as
a
: to supply with an identifying marker or price
was tagged at $4.95
b
: to provide with a name or epithet : label, brand
tagged him a has-been
c
: to put a ticket on (a motor vehicle) for a traffic violation
d
: to deface with a graffito usually in the form of the defacer's nickname
e
: to supply (something, such as a social media post) with a hashtag
Don't forget to submit your photos of Montreal via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by tagging them with #ThisMtl.Montreal Gazette
f
: to mention (another person or account) in a social media post in a way that causes the person or account to be notified of the post
On Facebook, if someone wants to get your attention or make it clear to others that you are somehow connected to a post, they can tag you in it. Your name will be mentioned in the post or with the photo, and everyone else who sees it will also know that you are mentioned.Dave Johnson
Knowing how to tag someone on Facebook means also knowing how to tag someone on Twitter and Instagram. Simply use the @ symbol to start a tag.ThriveHive.com
My friends went back and tagged me in all the photos I'd missed …Rachel Kraus
Instagram allows users to reshare posts they've been tagged in to their own Story.Devon Delfino
2
: to attach as an addition : append
3
: to follow closely and persistently
4
: to hold to account
especially : to charge with violating the law
was tagged for … assault Burt Woolis
5

intransitive verb

: to keep close
tagging at their heelsCorey Ford

tag

3 of 5

noun (2)

1
: a game in which the player who is it chases others and tries to touch one of them who then becomes it
2
: an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball

tag

4 of 5

verb (2)

tagged; tagging

transitive verb

1
a
: to touch in or as if in a game of tag
b
: to put out (a runner) in baseball by a touch with the ball or the gloved hand containing the ball
2
: to hit solidly
3
: to choose usually for a special purpose : select
4
: to make a hit or run off (a pitcher) in baseball
the batter tagged him for a home run

TAG

5 of 5

abbreviation

the adjutant general

Examples of tag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Toys with tags or ribbons for grasping help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 The franchise tag’s entire total will count against the Panthers’ salary cap until a contract extension or a trade is completed. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 Though the Dolphins have decided not to use the franchise tag to guarantee Christian Wilkins’ return to the team, the Dolphins remain very much open to his return and lines of communication also are open, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 As expected, the Chiefs have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on cornerback L’Jaruis Sneed. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 Barkley’s contract took up much of the oxygen during last offseason, with the Giants declining to sign Barkley by the July 17, 2023 deadline to do so, then putting a franchise tag on him, giving him a one-year contract that led to another free agency for the longtime New York running back. Howard Megdal, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Kirk Cousins, Chris Jones and Mike Evans are among the best players who will be available on the open market unless their teams use a franchise tag by March 5. Rob Maaddi, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Ekeler, Barkley and Jacobs had the tag placed on them last season. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 Police wrote Jordan was apprehended driving a 2009 black Ford Escape with temporary tags. Andi Babineau, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
How much an offender gets tagged can be tied to intent, Sanchez said. Jim Radcliffe, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 When third baseman Jared Sprague-Lott couldn't make the catch, Carson Garner tried to score from third base and was tagged out by McEntire in a rundown for a double play. Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Scientists used to tag the beluga whales by shooting pins through their fins. Sophy Roberts, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 For a bonus entry, share a post to their story and tag both brands. Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Le Vaughn also tagged the clothing brand in outfit pictures from New Year’s Day in January 2024. Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 The post is tagged at Geoffrey’s restaurant in Malibu, where the couple ate a surf and turf meal before the proposal. Makena Gera, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 Her dog, a West Highland white terrier named Luke, always tagged alongside her. Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 De La Cruz also did his part defensively in left field, making a sliding grab in the bottom of the second inning on a Willson Contreras line drive and starting a relay throw later in the inning that resulted in Alec Burleson being tagged out at home. Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tag.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English tagge; akin to Middle Low German tagge, tacke twig, spike

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1627, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tag was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tag

Cite this Entry

“Tag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tag. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tag

1 of 4 noun
1
: a loose hanging piece of cloth : tatter
2
: a metal or plastic binding on an end of a shoelace
3
4
a
: something (as a marker) used for identification
specifically : hangtag
b
: a part of a computer file that controls the format or layout of a document or that indicates a hyperlink (as "〈it〉" to indicate italic type)

tag

2 of 4 verb
tagged; tagging
1
: to provide or mark with or as if with a tag
2
: to follow closely and continuously
3

tag

3 of 4 noun
1
: a game in which one player who is it chases the others and tries to touch one of them to make that person it
2
: an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball

tag

4 of 4 verb
tagged; tagging
1
: to touch in a game of tag
2
: to put out (a runner) in baseball by touching with the ball or with the gloved hand holding the ball
Etymology

Noun

Middle English tagge "a hanging piece of loose cloth"; of Germanic origin

Noun

origin unknown

Medical Definition

tag

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a shred of flesh or muscle
b
: a small abnormal projecting piece of tissue especially when potentially or actually neoplastic in character
2
: label

tag

2 of 2 transitive verb
tagged; tagging
: label
tagged antibodies

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