banner

[ban-er]

noun

1. the flag of a country, army, troop, etc.

2. an ensign or the like bearing some device, motto, or slogan, as one carried in religious processions, political demonstrations, etc.

3. a flag formerly used as the standard of a sovereign, lord, or knight.

4. a sign painted on cloth and hung over a street, entrance, etc..

   Banners at the intersection announced the tennis tournament.

5. anything regarded or displayed as a symbol of principles.

6. Heraldry.,  a square flag bearing heraldic devices.

7. Also called line, screamer, streamer. Also called banner line,. Journalism.,  a headline extending across the width of a newspaper page, usually across the top of the front page.

8. an open streamer with lettering, towed behind an airplane in flight, for advertising purposes.

9. Also called banner ad. an advertisement that appears across the top or bottom or along one side of a web page.

adjective

1. leading or foremost.

   a banner year for crops.

   Synonyms: vintage, red-letter, winning, record, notable

banner

/ ˈbænə /

noun

1. a long strip of flexible material displaying a slogan, advertisement, etc, esp one suspended between two points

2. a placard or sign carried in a procession or demonstration

3. something that represents a belief or principle

   a commitment to nationalization was the banner of British socialism

4. the flag of a nation, army, etc, used as a standard or ensign

5. (formerly) the standard of an emperor, knight, etc

6. Also called: banner headline. a large headline in a newspaper, etc, extending across the page, esp the front page

7. an advertisement, often animated, that extends across the width of a web page

8. a square flag, often charged with the arms of its bearer

verb

1. (tr) (of a newspaper headline) to display (a story) prominently

adjective

1. outstandingly successful

   a banner year for orders

Other Word Forms

• bannered adjective
• bannerless adjective
• bannerlike adjective
• unbannered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of banner¹

1200–50; Middle English banere < Old French baniere < Late Latin bann ( um ) (variant of bandum standard < Germanic, compare Gothic bandwa sign; band ¹ ) + Old French -iere < Latin -āria -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of banner¹

C13: from Old French baniere , of Germanic origin; compare Gothic bandwa sign; influenced by Medieval Latin bannum _ban ¹ , bannīre to _banish

Example Sentences

Minutes before the main event started in Trafalgar Square, Defend Our Juries managed to hold two banners over the north side of Westminster Bridge which read: "I oppose genocide" and "I support Palestine Action".

From BBC

Large numbers turned out regardless, behind banners with slogans like "Stop the Massacre" and "Hands off the Flotilla!"

From BBC

One group has organized an airplane banner to fly over the stadium before the game, with a similar message directed at the beleaguered Bruins athletic director.

From Los Angeles Times

On Wednesday, the demonstrators in the capital were seen waving flags and banners with the words "Rajoelina out".

From BBC

Six people were arrested Sunday after they tried to hang a banner on the Hollywood sign, according to authorities.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• emblem 
• headline 
• pennant 
• streamer