badge
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a small object you wear on your clothes to show who you are or what group you belong to.
n.a distinctive emblem or insignia worn on clothing to indicate rank, office, or membership in an organisation.
Simple“The police officer showed his badge before asking the driver for identification.”
In context“Every conference attendee was required to wear a name badge to facilitate networking during the breakout sessions.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a small picture on a website or app that shows you have finished a task or won a prize.
n.a digital icon or visual indicator awarded to a user within a software environment to signify an achievement or status.
Simple“I earned a gold badge on the language app for practicing every day for a month.”
In context“The gamification strategy includes awarding digital badges to employees who complete the mandatory cybersecurity training modules ahead of schedule.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a plastic card used to open doors or enter a private building.
n.a security credential, often in card form with a magnetic strip or chip, used to grant access to restricted areas.
Simple“You need to swipe your badge at the main gate to enter the office.”
In context“The security system logs every time a staff member uses their badge to enter the laboratory after hours.”
SynonymspassID card - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a slang word for a police officer.
n.a metonymic slang term for a law enforcement officer, derived from the physical shield they carry.
Simple“He didn't want to talk while there was a badge standing nearby.”
In context“The local residents were wary of any badge entering the neighborhood without a specific warrant or explanation.”
Teacher's tipThis usage is often found in crime dramas or informal American speech; it can sound slightly disrespectful or confrontational depending on the tone.
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to use an electronic card to enter a building or room.
v.to gain entry to a restricted area by scanning or presenting an identification badge.
Simple“I forgot to badge in this morning, so the system thinks I am absent.”
In context“Employees are required to badge out whenever they leave the secure facility, even for short breaks.”
UsageOften used as a phrasal verb with 'in' or 'out'.
Synonymsswipe incheck in
“They’ve shown that they do not have a moral compass, but it’s a badge of honour for them.”
“Artists with the badge will not appear in users' personalised recommendations unless they already follow them, Spotify says.”
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.