Added 9 October 2026
badge
/bæd͡ʒ/ noun
Latin root: bagea Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about badge at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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An emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.).
they checked everyone's badge before letting them in
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Any feature that is regarded as a sign of status (a particular power or quality or rank).
wearing a tie was regarded as a badge of respectability
verb
Origin
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”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)