badge

1 of 2

noun

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 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The sheriff also said that Henderson’s badge number, #129, will be retired. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Once the checks are done, the user will receive a verification badge on their profile, and their selfie video will be deleted. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 July 2025
Verb
Further changes unique to the Black Badge Spectre include exterior trim and badged in black instead of chrome, of course, and a new illuminated front grille backplate. Alistair Charlton, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 In the top-right corner, check the syncing status (look for a circle or badge around your profile icon). Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for badge

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of badge was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Badge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/badge. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

badge

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

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