# badger

/ˈbædʒɝ/ (US) · /bˈædʒɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/badger
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to pester

verb · CEFR B2

to keep asking someone for something or telling them to do something until they are annoyed.

For teachers: to pester or harass someone persistently; to press for information or action through repeated questioning.

- The children continued to badger their parents for ice cream until they finally gave in.
- Journalists continued to badger the minister for a statement regarding the scandal, despite his repeated refusals to comment.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and always requires an object.

### 2. the animal

noun · CEFR B2

an animal with grey, black, and white fur that lives in holes in the ground and comes out at night.

For teachers: a burrowing, carnivorous mammal of the family Mustelidae, typically nocturnal and characterised by a black and white striped face.

- We were lucky enough to see a badger running across the field late at night.
- The local wildlife trust is working to protect the ancient badger setts from the proposed highway expansion.

## Examples

- Stop badgering me for the keys.
- The journalist badgered the politician for a clear answer during the press conference.
- She felt badgered by her colleagues until she finally agreed to lead the project, a decision that shifted the team's dynamic entirely.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.