badge

Meaning

Noun

1. A distinctive mark, token, sign, emblem or cognizance, worn on one’s clothing, as an insignia of some rank, or of the membership of an organization.
2. A small nameplate, identifying the wearer, and often giving additional information.
3. A card, sometimes with a barcode or magnetic strip, granting access to a certain area.
4. Something characteristic; a mark; a token.
5. (obsolete) A brand on the hand of a thief, etc.
6. A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel, containing a window or the representation of one.
7. A distinctive mark worn by servants, retainers, and followers of royalty or nobility, who, being beneath the rank of gentlemen, have no right to armorial bearings.
8. A small overlay on an icon that shows additional information about that item, such as the number of new alerts or messages.
9. (Internet) An icon or emblem awarded to a user for some achievement.
10. (slang) A police officer.

Verb

1. (transitive) To mark or distinguish with a badge.
2. (transitive) To show a badge to.
3. (ambitransitive) To enter a restricted area by showing one’s badge.

Synonyms

insignia

emblem

sign

token

symbol

mark

medal

decoration

tag

flag

signal

brand

device

rosette

🏵️

label

🏷️

stamp

award

cockade

button

cordon

figure

tab

ideogram

implicate

imply

indication

inscribe

item

luminary

make

manifestation

marker

mean

medallion

merit badge

metal plate

name-plate

nock

notation

notch

omen

patch

pennant

pin

pip

point

portend

portent

put down

register

Translations

insigne

Abzeichen

distintivo

distintivo

emblema

insigne

έμβλημα

badge

emblema

σήμα

wapen

symbole

blazoen

crachá

insignia

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bæd͡ʒ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: badge

Cognate with Old English: bēag

Cognate with Scots: bagie

In summary

From Middle English badge, bagge, bage, bagy, from Anglo-Norman bage or Medieval Latin bagea, bagia (“sign, emblem”), of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from Medieval Latin baga (“ring”), from Old Saxon bāg, bōg (“ring, ornament”), from Proto-Germanic *baugaz (“ring, bracelet, armband”); or possibly the Anglo-Norman word is derived from an earlier, unattested English word (compare Old English bēag (“ring, bracelet, collar, crown”). Cognate with Scots bagie, badgie, bawgy (“badge”).