badger

UK: /ˈbædʒə^r/ US: /ˈbædʒɚ/ ,(baj′ər)

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

badg•er /ˈbædʒɚ/  n. [countable]

1. Mammals a burrowing, nocturnal mammal.

v. [ ~ + obj]

2. to bother or annoy continuously;
   pester:
   Reporters seemed to enjoy badgering the president.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

badg•er  (baj′ər), n. 

1. Mammals any of various burrowing, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, as Taxidea taxus, of North America, and Meles meles, of Europe and Asia.
2. Clothing the fur of this mammal.
3. Mammals, British Terms [Australian.]
   • a wombat.
   • bandicoot (def. 2).
4. (cap.) a native or inhabitant of Wisconsin ( the Badger State) (used as a nickname).
5. Building a swablike device for cleaning excess mortar from the interiors of newly laid tile drains.

v.t. 

6. to harass or urge persistently;
   pester;
   nag:
   I had to badger him into coming with us.

• variant of badgeard, perh. badge + -ard, in allusion to white mark or badge on head 1515–25

Synonyms

• 6. vex, bedevil, plague, worry, disturb, bait.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

badger / ˈbædʒə/ noun

1. any of various stocky omnivorous musteline mammals of the subfamily Melinae, such as Meles meles (Eurasian badger), occurring in Europe, Asia, and North America: order Carnivora (carnivores). They are typically large burrowing animals, with strong claws and a thick coat striped black and white on the head
2. honey badger ⇒
   another name for ratel

verb

1. (transitive) to pester or harass

Etymology: 16th Century: variant of badgeard, probably from badge (from the white mark on its forehead) + -ard