Band-Aid

UK: 'band-aid', 'Band-Aid': /ˈbændeɪd/ US: (band′ād′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ˈBand-ˌAid, n. [countable]

1. Medicine, Trademarks [Trademark.] an adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center.
2. Informal Terms a temporary solution to a problem:
   [often: band-aid] small federal grants that are only band-aids.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Band-Aid  (band′ād′), 

1. Medicine, Trademarks [Trademark.] a brand of adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center, used to cover minor abrasions and cuts.

n. 

2. Informal Terms (often l.c.) a makeshift, limited, or temporary aid or solution that does not satisfy the basic or long-range need:
   The proposed reform isn't thorough enough to be more than just a band-aid.

adj. 

3. Informal Terms (often l.c.) serving as a makeshift, limited, or temporary aid or solution:
   band-aid measures to solve a complex problem.

• 1965–70 for defs. 2, 3

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Band-Aid / ˈbændˌeɪd/ noun

1. a gauze surgical dressing backed by adhesive tape
2. (sometimes not capitals) something that provides a temporary solution to a problem