bandage
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a piece of material used to dress a wound, bind a broken limb, etc
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a strip of any soft material used for binding, etc
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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rebandageverb (used with object)
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unbandageverb (used with object)
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bandagernoun
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well-bandagedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have bandagedperfect
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has bandagedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been bandagingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been bandagingperfect progressive
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am bandagingprogressive 1st person singular
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is bandagingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are bandagingprogressive
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bandagingparticiple
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bandagessingular 3rd person
Past
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had bandagedperfect
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was bandagingprogressive singular
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were bandagingprogressive plural
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bandagedparticiple
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had been bandagingperfect progressive
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bandagedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of bandage
From Middle French, dating back to 1590–1600; see origin at band 2, -age
Explanation
A bandage is a piece of tape or cloth that's used to slow the flow of blood from a cut or another wound. Any good first aid kit is equipped with plenty of bandages. A bandage can vary from being a tiny plastic strip you stick on the spot where your cat scratched you to a thick, wide cloth that's applied to a serious injury at a hospital. You can also use it as a verb: "If I were you, I'd bandage that skinned knee so it doesn't get dirty." Bandage is a Middle French word, from the Old French bander, "to bind," and ultimately bande, "a strip."
Vocabulary lists containing bandage
Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
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Unit 9
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These stories are harsh and brief, like a bandage ripped from a wound.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026
His right hand shows persistent bruising, often covered with thick makeup and at times a bandage, and his ankles have appeared swollen.
From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026
But any payment is only a bandage for a deeply rigged market.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 23, 2025
"She doesn't suffer fools, she won't make cups of tea, and she won't bandage bruised egos," sings Carlile over a delicately plucked guitar.
From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025
Koffi noted with a pang the bandage near the base of her head.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
