plural batons
1
: cudgel, truncheon
specifically
: billy club
2
: a staff borne as a symbol of office
3
: a narrow heraldic bend
4
: a slender rod with which a leader directs a band or orchestra
5
: a hollow cylinder carried by each member of a relay team and passed to the succeeding runner
6
: a hollow metal rod with a weighted bulb at one or both ends that is flourished by a drum major or drum majorette
7
: a piece of food that has been cut into a narrow strip that is thicker than a julienned piece of food
We cut carrots into slabs, then batons, then dice.—
Janet Rausa Fuller
Janet Rausa FullerExamples of baton in a Sentence
The majorette twirled the baton.
the detainee claimed that the police had beat him with their batons even after he had been shackled
Recent Examples on the Web
The baton came back to him once Paramount Plus gave a green light to The Challenge: All Stars, and OGs like himself were given a second shot at glory.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Arne Slot has picked up the baton from Jurgen Klopp and looks almost certain to lead Liverpool to their first Premier League title since 2019-20, even if the prospect of a more remarkable campaign has fallen by the wayside, following defeat in the Carabao Cup final and their Champions League exit.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
The baton passes, rather frenetically, to other standout friends, too.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
The orchestra’s 2025-26 season, announced Wednesday, at least reflects the passing of the baton far better than the current.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baton
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Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Arne Slot has picked up the baton from Jurgen Klopp and looks almost certain to lead Liverpool to their first Premier League title since 2019-20, even if the prospect of a more remarkable campaign has fallen by the wayside, following defeat in the Carabao Cup final and their Champions League exit.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
The baton passes, rather frenetically, to other standout friends, too.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
The orchestra’s 2025-26 season, announced Wednesday, at least reflects the passing of the baton far better than the current.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baton
Cite this Entry
“Baton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baton. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
baton
noun
ba·ton
bə-ˈtän 
ba-
1
: a staff borne as a symbol of office
2
: a stick with which a leader directs a band or orchestra
3
: a hollow rod passed from one member of a relay team to another
4
: a staff with a ball at one or both ends carried by a drum major or baton twirler
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