# badge

> English word · Noun · IPA /bæd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #6,870

## Definitions
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. 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. An icon or emblem awarded to a user for some achievement.
10. A police officer.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **bag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bag)
- **BAE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bae)
- **base** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-base)
- **bags** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bags)
- **bang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bang)
- **bare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bare)
- **bake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bake)
- **bale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bale)
- **bane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bane)
- **bode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bode)
- **bate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bate)
- **bede** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bede)
- **bide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bide)
- **badly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-badly)
- **blade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-blade)
- **binge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-binge)
- **barge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-barge)
- **bangs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bangs)
- **beige** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-beige)
- **bulge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/badge-vs-bulge)

## Common misspellings (7)
`abdge`, `baddge`, `badeg`, `badgge`, `bagde`, `bbadge`, `bdage`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/badge