baton

noun

ba·​ton bə-ˈtän 

ba-

also

ˈba-tᵊn 

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

Synonyms of baton

• cane

Examples 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

The Omaha Police Department said officers will continue to carry tasers, batons, OC spray and firearms. — Kathy McCormack, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Under the baton of music director and early music specialist Peter Whelan, the orchestra starts the day with a program featuring court music from Baroque France. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Running battles erupted throughout downtown as security forces used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, while protesters responded with barricades, stones, and slingshots. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Christopher McQuarrie assumed directing duties with the prior entry (taking the baton from Brad Bird’s franchise-revitalizing Ghost Protocol) and proceeded to push the series to greater and greater heights. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French bâton, from Old French baston, ultimately from Late Latin bastum stick

First Known Use

1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing baton

• passed the baton

Rhymes for baton

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon
• coupon

Kids 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