Definition

1. Noun:

   • An emblem signifying status, rank, membership, or affiliation: A badge is a small object, often made of plastic, cloth, or metal, that you wear or carry to show your official position, membership in a group, or that you are allowed to be somewhere.
   • A distinctive mark or sign of a particular quality, condition, or identity: A badge can also be any feature or object that is seen as a symbol or indicator of a specific status, power, or characteristic.

2. Verb:

   • To mark or identify with a badge: To put a badge on someone or something, typically for identification, security, or to signify authorization.

Examples

• Noun:

  • Security checked everyone's badge before allowing entry to the building.
  • For many, a university degree is a badge of achievement.
  • He proudly wore the badge of his veteran's association.

• Verb:

  • All contractors must be badged by the front desk upon arrival.
  • The new identification system requires employees to be badged with a photo ID.

Advanced Usage

• "A badge of honor": Something worn or experienced with pride, often because it shows one has endured something difficult.

  • She considered her scars a badge of honor from her years of service.

• "A badge of courage": A symbol or sign of bravery.

  • His calm demeanor under pressure was a badge of courage.

Variants and Related Words

• Badger (verb): To pester or annoy persistently. (Note: This is a different word with a different meaning, but it is a common homophone confusion.)
• Badging (gerund/noun): The action or process of issuing badges.
  • The badging process for the conference took an hour.

Synonyms

• Noun: Emblem, insignia, crest, logo, pin, marker, token, symbol, sign.
• Verb: Tag, label, identify, mark.

Related Phrases

• "Badge of office": An emblem that signifies one's official position or authority.

  • The mayor's chain is a badge of office.

• "Show one's badge": To display one's official identification, especially by a police officer.

  • The detective had to show his badge to gain the witness's trust.

Idioms

• "A badge of slavery": A symbol or marker of oppression, servitude, or lack of freedom. (This idiom uses "badge" in its symbolic sense.)
  • The author argued that the old policies were a badge of slavery for the community.

Noun

1. 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
2. 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

Verb

1. put a badge on
   • The workers here must be badged