Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

Band-Aid

American  
[band-ayd] / 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

His first success came with jingles for brands like State Farm — “Like a Good Neighbor” is his handiwork — and Band-Aid.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

It can work for some people who prefer the “pull off the Band-Aid approach,” but for most, smoothing out the tax consequences works best.

From MarketWatch ● May 26, 2026

After so many years of doing this, I can open up a crack in the skin really easily, so I cover it up with a Band-Aid to try to prevent infection.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training