badge

1 of 2

noun

ˈbaj 

plural badges

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 sense 1b

Solicitors have reacted with dismay after Staffordshire courts ordered them to remove "political" badges.

—Birmingham (England) Post

badge

2 of 2

verb

badged; badging; badges

transitive verb

: to mark or distinguish (someone or something) with or as if with a badge

Guests arrived and were counted and badged.

—The New Yorker

They were dressed in uniform, too, but theirs were everyday uniforms, not ceremonial. Dark olive cloth, worn and creased, badged here and there with the unfamiliar insignia of their rank.

—Lee Child

My daughter's hands were raw and scraped from shucking four hundred oysters the night before, her knuckles badged with tiny, brilliant, forming scabs.

—William Boyd

Examples of badge in a Sentence

Noun

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 on the Web

Noun

Being a designer’s first bride, particularly for someone as universally beloved and respected as Blazy and at a house as storied as this one, is a cultural badge of honor. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 20 June 2026

In addition to completing a service project, prospective Eagle Scouts also need to meet several other requirements, including earning 21 merit badges and writing a letter about their life purpose, Herr said. —Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Verb

The Kingsman wears chromed bullet turn signals, a vintage Royal Enfield badge up front, and delicate pin-stripes on a chic cream color tone with gold accents. —Utkarsh Sood june 05, New Atlas, 5 June 2026

Chinese partners Leapmotor and Dongfeng would provide electric vehicle technology and use some of Stellantis’s unused factories in Europe to make their own products or badge them with Stellantis brands. —Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bage, bagge, of obscure origin

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing badge

• badge of honor/pride
• film badge

Rhymes for badge

• hajj
• madge

Kids Definition

badge

noun

ˈbaj 

: a mark or sign worn to show that a person belongs to a certain group, class, or rank