# banner

/ˈbænɝ/ (US) · /bˈænɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. large sign or flag

noun · CEFR B1

a long piece of cloth or paper with a message or design, often carried in a parade or hung in a public place.

For teachers: a large strip of cloth or other material bearing a slogan, design, or emblem, typically carried in a procession or suspended in a conspicuous location.

- The protesters carried a large banner that said 'Save Our Park' through the city streets.
- The university hung a celebratory banner across the main entrance to welcome the returning alumni for the centennial gala.

### 2. online advertisement

noun · CEFR B2

an advertisement that appears across the top or side of a webpage.

For teachers: a rectangular graphic advertisement on a website or television screen, typically linking to the advertiser's site.

- I found the website difficult to read because there were too many flashing banners.
- The marketing department decided to allocate more budget to banner ads on high-traffic news portals to increase brand visibility.

### 3. a cause or movement

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a set of ideas or a goal that a group of people supports.

For teachers: a figurative representation of a cause, principle, or movement under which people are united.

- Many different groups joined together under the banner of environmental protection.
- The diverse coalition campaigned under the banner of educational reform, despite their differing views on fiscal policy.

### 4. newspaper title

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the name of a newspaper printed in large letters at the top of the front page.

For teachers: the title of a periodical printed in large type across the top of the front page.

- The newspaper's banner was printed in bold red ink for the special edition.
- The editor decided to change the font of the front-page banner to give the publication a more modern aesthetic.

### 5. exceptional

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English

describes a year or period that is very successful or excellent.

For teachers: distinguished by great success or production; exceptional.

- The company had a banner year and made record profits.
- Following a banner season for the agricultural sector, local farmers invested heavily in new machinery and infrastructure.

Usage: Almost always used to modify nouns like 'year', 'season', or 'month'.

### 6. to decorate or headline

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

to decorate a place with banners or to put a large headline on a story.

For teachers: to adorn with banners or to report a news story with a prominent headline.

- The streets were bannered with bright colors for the summer festival.
- The national newspapers bannered the news of the peace treaty across their front pages.

## Examples

- The website has a large banner at the top for the sale.
- The marketing team designed a colorful banner to promote the new product launch on the company's homepage.
- While traditional print banners remain effective for local visibility, digital banner ads allow for precise targeting and real-time tracking of user engagement across various platforms.

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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.