A badge is a small object, usually made of metal, plastic, or fabric, that you wear or display to show something about yourself. Police officers wear metal badges to prove they're officers. Students might earn merit badges in scouting by mastering skills like first aid or wilderness survival. At a conference, people wear name badges so others know who they are.

Badges serve as instant proof or recognition. When a security guard shows you their badge, you know they have authority to be there. When someone wears a badge showing they won a competition, everyone can see their achievement at a glance.

The word also appears in digital contexts: video games award badges for completing challenges, and websites use badges to show achievements or skills. These work the same way physical badges do, displaying accomplishments for others to see.

You might also hear badge used more broadly to mean any visible sign of something. A bruise could be called a badge of honor after defending a friend, or someone might wear their mistakes as a badge of shame. In these cases, badge means a visible mark that tells a story about what happened or what you value.