badge

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noun \ˈbaj\

Definition of badge

1 : a device or token especially of membership in a society or group
2 : a characteristic mark
3 : an emblem awarded for a particular accomplishment
4 British : button 1b Solicitors have reacted with dismay after Staffordshire courts ordered them to remove “political” badges. — Birmingham Post

badge

transitive verb

See badge defined for English-language learners

See badge defined for kids

Examples of badge in a Sentence

The policeman flashed his badge.
Don't forget to wear your name badge.
The receptionist glanced at my visitor's badge.
She earned 10 merit badges in scouting.
She was wearing a badge that read “Support your local library.”

Recent Examples of badge from the Web

Ford said the men -- who worked for a private company called US Fugitive Recovery & Extradition -- didn't show any badges or ID.

— doug criss, CNN, "Bounty hunters, fugitive killed in gunfight at car dealership", 1 June 2017
Restrictive tactics include imposing parking permits, adding parking meters, creating private beach clubs, limiting facilities for bathers and raising fees for badges that allow access to the beach.

— nick corasaniti, New York Times, "Sandy, of All Things, Has Helped Open Access to Jersey Shore", 30 May 2017
The club requires a special badge and is always a hot spot on the Colonial grounds during Dean & DeLuca Invitational week.

— jay betsill, star-telegram, "Dean & DeLuca Invitational: The weekend scene", 29 May 2017
Travis Couture-Lovelady, a National Rifle Association lobbyist, said gun-rights supporters are willing to allow the health care facilities to keep weapons out of secured areas or even areas requiring a badge for entry.

— john hanna, The Seattle Times, "Kansas legislators to reopen debate over guns at hospitals", 27 May 2017
Details: Badges for the event are sold out, but events happen throughout the Gaslamp.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The biggest events in San Diego this summer", 26 May 2017
An all-events badge is $125, a Friday pass is $49, Saturday and Sunday passes are $55, and a Monday pass is $25.

— kalin kipling, sacbee, "8 fun ways to fill Memorial Day weekend around Sacramento", 26 May 2017
Surles said he's been considering hanging up his badge for some time.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Longtime St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles won't run again after 38 years on the job", 26 May 2017
Los Angeles Times Tarnished badge: Former deputy chief of the Fresno Police Department Keith Foster was found guilty of conspiring to distribute heroin and marijuana.

— benjamin oreskes, latimes.com, "Essential California: Face it: The Big One is going to happen", 25 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'badge'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of badge

Middle English bage, bagge, of obscure origin

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

BADGE Defined for English Language Learners

badge

play

noun

Definition of badge for English Language Learners

: a small object (such as a tag, pin, or metal shield) that is worn or held up by a person so that it can be easily seen, that has writing (such as a person's name) and often a picture on it, and that shows who the person is
: a cloth patch that can be sewn onto clothing and that is awarded to a person (such as a Boy Scout or Girl Scout) for doing something
: something that represents or is a sign of something else