armband

American

[ahrm-band] / ˈɑrmˌbænd /

noun

a fabric band worn around the upper arm as a badge or symbol; brassard.

armband British

/ ˈɑːmˌbænd /

noun

a band of material worn round the arm, such as one bearing an identifying mark, etc, or a black one indicating mourning
an inflatable buoyancy aid, worn on the upper arm of a person learning to swim
an elasticated band worn round the upper arm to keep the shirtsleeve in place

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of armband

First recorded in 1790–1800; arm ¹ + band ²

Vocabulary lists containing armband

Excerpt from "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"

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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.

See Examples For:

armband

Bellingham took the captain's armband after coming on at half-time in the 1-0 win.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

Tavernier also wore the armband during Graeme Murty, Michael Beale, Barry Ferguson and Russell Martin's brief stints as boss.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026

She also offered to let him wear a black armband while competing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026

The IOC had said Heraskevych could instead wear a black armband, but the 27-year-old insisted on competing in his helmet adorned with portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

I twirl the ends of my armband round and round.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023