badge /bædʒ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: bage ]
1 . British English a small piece of metal, cloth, or plastic with a picture or words on it, worn to show rank, membership of a group, support for a political idea etc SYN button , pin American English :
We were each handed a badge with our name on it.
2 . a small piece of metal or plastic that you carry to show people that you work for a particular organization, for example that you are a police officer
3 . a badge of honour/courage etc something that shows that you have a particular quality:
He now sees his wartime injuries as a badge of honor.
4 . ( also merit badge American English ) a small piece of cloth with a picture on it, given to ↑ scout s , ↑ guide s etc to show what skills they have learned:
Steve won a photography badge in the Boy Scouts.
5 . badge of office British English an object which shows that you have an official position:
Mayors wear chains around their necks as badges of office.