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Synonyms

Band-Aid

American  
[band-eyd] / ˈbændˌeɪd /
Trademark.
  1. a brand of adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center, used to cover minor abrasions and cuts.


noun

  1. (often lowercase) 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.

adjective

  1. (often lowercase) serving as a makeshift, limited, or temporary aid or solution.

    band-aid measures to solve a complex problem.

Band-Aid British  
/ ˈbændˌeɪd /

noun

  1. a gauze surgical dressing backed by adhesive tape

  2. informal (sometimes not capitals) somethinɡ that provides a temporary solution to a problem

"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 Band-Aid

1965–70 Band-Aid for defs. 2, 3

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:

For a time, the internet did put a Band-Aid on this problem, bringing isolated communities together and providing the sort of crosstalk they couldn’t hear on the abandoned sidewalks of gated developments.

From Salon Aug. 23, 2026

Kenvue - which owns well-known brands including Band-Aid, Listerine, and Calpol - was spun off from J&J in 2022.

From BBC Jul. 28, 2026

“It’s bigger than a Band-Aid, but smaller than the tourniquet we really need,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 23, 2026

“I think it’s a Band-Aid on a bullet wound,” Frangie said.

From MarketWatch Jun. 26, 2026

I was pretty sure I had actually changed the Band-Aid right after waking up, just before I brushed my teeth, but the thought was insistent.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

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