English Reference
Noun

armband

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɑɹmˌbænd/ UK /ˈɑːmbænd/ arm·band UK spelling armbands Sports

n.a piece of cloth or plastic worn around the upper arm. It is often used to show a person's role in a group, like a leader or a referee.

n.a strip of fabric or plastic worn around the upper arm, typically to indicate a person's status, role, or team affiliation.


SIMPLE

The referee wore a bright yellow armband to show his position.

CONTEXTUAL

The team captain was easily identified by the red armband he wore during the championship match.

COMPLEX

In many professional leagues, the captain is distinguished by a black armband, a tradition that serves both as a visual identifier and a mark of leadership.

I would arrive armed with what I liked to call my anti-drowning armour: armbands, floats, goggles, and a swimming hat.

BBC News· 31 Aug 2026

Now wearing the captain’s armband, he scored twice and set up another as Dino Toppmöller got off to a roaring start as Lens manager .

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026

From arm + band.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated