plural batons
1
: cudgel, truncheon
specifically
: billy club
2
: a staff borne as a symbol of office
3
: a narrow heraldic bend
4
: a slender rod with which a leader directs a band or orchestra
5
: a hollow cylinder carried by each member of a relay team and passed to the succeeding runner
6
: a hollow metal rod with a weighted bulb at one or both ends that is flourished by a drum major or drum majorette
7
: a piece of food that has been cut into a narrow strip that is thicker than a julienned piece of food
We cut carrots into slabs, then batons, then dice.—
Janet Rausa Fuller
Janet Rausa FullerExamples of baton in a Sentence
The majorette twirled the baton.
the detainee claimed that the police had beat him with their batons even after he had been shackled
Recent Examples on the Web
Five officers, who are also Black, caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit him with a police baton while trying to handcuff him.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Mills acknowledged that the officers were afraid and exhausted, but said some of the methods used on Nichols complied with police department policies, including using wrist locks and hitting with a baton.
—Adrian Sainz, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Now the baton passes to new leaders, at a time when people are craving something bigger than themselves.
—Michael Sheldrick, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The officer struck the boy in the head with a baton, the complaint said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baton
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Jade Walker, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Mills acknowledged that the officers were afraid and exhausted, but said some of the methods used on Nichols complied with police department policies, including using wrist locks and hitting with a baton.
—Adrian Sainz, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Now the baton passes to new leaders, at a time when people are craving something bigger than themselves.
—Michael Sheldrick, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The officer struck the boy in the head with a baton, the complaint said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baton
Cite this Entry
“Baton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baton. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
baton
noun
ba·ton
bə-ˈtän 
ba-
1
: a staff borne as a symbol of office
2
: a stick with which a leader directs a band or orchestra
3
: a hollow rod passed from one member of a relay team to another
4
: a staff with a ball at one or both ends carried by a drum major or baton twirler
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