badge

/bædʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /bædʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbaj/ (ame, mw)

badge — noun

1. an identifying card or emblem worn on your clothing to show your name, position,

1.名詞B2
釋義

an identifying card or emblem worn on your clothing to show your name, position, or the organisation you represent.

例句

All visitors to the research lab must wear an identity badge at all times.

wear + identity badge for access/security

Noor pinned her company badge onto her jacket before the board meeting began.

pin + company badge on clothing

同義詞
  • ID card

    more specific — refers to a card with a photo, not just any emblem

  • pass

    can mean a card that grants entry rather than one showing identity

文法句型

badge + of + noun

wear + badge

用法筆記

In workplaces and schools, 'badge' often refers specifically to an ID card worn on a lanyard or clipped to clothing. British English also uses 'badge' for the cloth emblem sewn onto a uniform — see sense 3.

常見錯誤

I forgot my sign at home.
I forgot my badge at home.
💡'sign' is for notices on walls; 'badge' is worn on your body.

2. a round metal pin bearing a design or slogan, clipped onto your clothing as a wa

2.名詞B2
釋義

a round metal pin bearing a design or slogan, clipped onto your clothing as a way of showing you support a particular idea, group, or cause.

例句

Isabela wore a bright yellow pin badge supporting the local library fund.

pin badge + supporting + cause

During the election, many people wore pin badges with the candidate's name on them.

同義詞
  • button

    American English term; usually round with a metal pin back

  • pin

    shorter form, but can also refer to jewellery-style pins

文法句型

wear + badge

badge + supporting/for + noun

用法筆記

This sense is distinct from sense 1 in that the primary purpose is showing support or affiliation, not proving identity. Also called a 'button' in American English, especially for political or music-related designs.

常見錯誤

I bought a sticker for my jacket to support the campaign.
I bought a pin badge for my jacket to support the campaign.
💡a 'sticker' is paper with adhesive on the back; a 'pin badge' has a metal pin that pierces the fabric.

3. a fabric emblem stitched onto a shirt, jacket, or uniform to indicate rank, memb

3.名詞B1
釋義

a fabric emblem stitched onto a shirt, jacket, or uniform to indicate rank, membership, or a completed achievement.

例句

The scout sewed a new badge onto her uniform after passing the cooking test.

sew + badge + onto + uniform

Each soldier's uniform has a cloth badge showing their regiment and rank.

cloth badge + showing + rank

同義詞
  • patch

    the more common term for a sewn-on cloth emblem

  • emblem

    more formal; can refer to any symbolic design

文法句型

sew + badge + onto

badge + on + uniform

用法筆記

Frequently used in scouting, military, and school-uniform contexts. Unlike sense 1 and 2, this badge is made of fabric and must be sewn or ironed onto the garment rather than pinned on.

常見錯誤

I pinned the cloth badge onto my backpack.
I sewed the cloth badge onto my backpack.
💡'pin' is for rigid badges with a metal pin; cloth badges are sewn or ironed on.

4. a metallic shield or star-shaped object carried by law-enforcement personnel, wh

4.名詞B2
釋義

a metallic shield or star-shaped object carried by law-enforcement personnel, which they display to verify their official role.

例句

The detective held up his badge and said, "Police — please step aside."

hold up + badge as authority identifier

Yael showed her police badge to the security guard before entering the building.

同義詞
  • shield

    common in American police contexts; often shaped like a shield

  • star

    used for certain US law enforcement badges that are star-shaped

  • warrant card

    British equivalent — a card rather than a metal badge

文法句型

show + badge

flash + badge

用法筆記

In American English, 'badge' almost always refers to a law-enforcement credential when used without qualification. British English more commonly uses 'warrant card' for the identification carried by police, though 'badge' is understood.

常見錯誤

The security guard showed his badge.' (when meaning a police officer)
The police officer showed his badge.
💡security guards may have 'ID cards' but not an official law-enforcement 'badge'.

5. something that shows or represents a particular quality, characteristic, or stat

5.名詞B2
釋義

something that shows or represents a particular quality, characteristic, or status that a person or thing has.

例句

For many runners, finishing a marathon is a badge of personal achievement.

badge of + abstract noun (achievement/honour/courage)

The scars on his hands were a badge of years spent working as a blacksmith.

同義詞
  • mark

    simpler and more general; lacks the sense of pride or status

  • symbol

    more neutral; any object/sign that represents something else

  • emblem

    more formal; suggests a deliberate design rather than naturally occurring

文法句型

badge + of + noun

用法筆記

This is a figurative sense — the 'badge' is not a physical object but something that is seen as representing a quality. The most common fixed phrase is 'badge of honour'. Distinguish from sense 1 (physical identity badge) by checking whether the referent is a literal worn object.

常見錯誤

Wearing a suit is a badge of a businessman.' (too literal)
Wearing a suit can be seen as a badge of professionalism.
💡the figurative sense needs an abstract quality, not a role.

badge — verb