baton

American  

[buh-ton, ba-, bat-n] / bəˈtɒn, bæ-, ˈbæt n /

noun

• batons
  plural

1. Music. a wand used by a conductor.

2. a rod of lightweight metal fitted with a weighted bulb at each end and carried and twirled by a drum major or majorette.

3. Track. a hollow rod of wood, paper, or plastic that is passed during a race from one member of a relay team to the next in a prescribed area.

4. a staff, club, or truncheon, especially one serving as a mark of office or authority.

   Synonyms:

   caduceus, fasces, wand, rod, crosier, scepter, mace

5. Heraldry.

   1. a diminutive of the bend sinister, couped at the extremities: used in England as a mark of bastardy.

   2. a similar diminutive of the ordinary bend.

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baton British  

/ -tɒn, ˈbætən /

noun

1. a thin stick used by the conductor of an orchestra, choir, etc, to indicate rhythm or expression

2. 1. a short stick carried for use as a weapon, as by a policeman; truncheon

   2. ( as modifier )

      a baton charge

3. athletics a short bar carried by a competitor in a relay race and transferred to the next runner at the end of each stage

4. a long stick with a knob on one end, carried, twirled, and thrown up and down by a drum major or drum majorette, esp at the head of a parade

5. a staff or club carried by an official as a symbol of authority

6. heraldry a single narrow diagonal line superimposed on all other charges, esp one curtailed at each end, signifying a bastard line

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baton Cultural  

1. A stick used by some conductors of choruses or orchestras. The baton is traditionally used to indicate the tempo of the music.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• batons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of baton

1540–50; < Middle French bâton, Old French baston < Vulgar Latin *bastōn- (stem of *bastō ) stick, club; compare Late Latin bastum staff

Explanation

A baton is the small stick or rod, like the one that an orchestra conductor uses to direct musicians. A conductor's baton is often made of lightweight wood. There are several types of batons, all of them some kind of stick or club. A relay runner carries and passes a metal or wooden baton to the next runner, and a baton twirler in a parade spins and throws a long, metal baton in the air as she marches. Police officers carry batons as well, heavy sticks that can be used as weapons. This is the original meaning of baton, from the Latin bastum, "stout staff."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

baton batons

The men's team also led for most of the final, with Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe and then 200m silver medallist Zharnel Hughes safely guiding the baton around to huge cheers inside Alexander Stadium.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

While the duo set the trail ablaze, they have passed the baton to a trio of coaches — Inouye-Perez, Walker and Fernandez, who have spent a combined 72 years in Westwood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

The epic journey concluded with a 40-day trip across Scotland involving 4,000 baton bearers.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Divergence can be the hallmark of a rally when a new industry has taken the market baton, but also a preview of broader market trouble.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Louisiana stretched out her baton and moved it around as if she were writing golden words in the air above their heads.

From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo

The son of a Nasa Indigenous guerrilla and an Afro‑Colombian police officer, his protection is a phalanx of some 30 Indigenous Guards, some barely out of their teens and armed with little more than batons.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

Little is made of Goering’s outrageous personal style: the power-blue Reichsmarschall’s uniform, the fur-lined capes, the diamond encrusted badges and batons, the face makeup.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

Sixty years ago, marchers in Selma faced tear gas and batons so that we might inherit a fuller democracy.

From Slate ● Jul. 16, 2025

Police officers, some wearing riot helmets and carrying batons, swiftly marched into the area.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2024

He followed her finger and saw the line of cops in black gear, their batons out, their shields up, as they completely blocked Broadway at 4th Street.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

• cudgel
• mace
• nightstick
• rod
• truncheon
• wand