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  

/ ˈbætən, -tɒn /

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

With the hours ticking down to the closing ceremony, when Japan will hand over the baton to Doha, top officials were on the defensive.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

Another world is depicted beneath the children — one that won’t be seen until four minutes before conductor Domingo Hindoyan raises his baton and the curtain begins to rise.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

Despite his retirement from the top board post, the change is considered an orderly passing of the baton rather than a sudden shock.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

All around the city, the posters proclaim, “Our New Era Starts Now,” with a determined-looking Gustavo Dudamel in profile, baton raised, about to nail some unheard climax.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

The girl clutched her baton to her chest and dropped to her knees.

From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo

"Authorities must allow young people to exercise these rights without fear of being hit by tear gas grenades or batons, or being arbitrarily taken into police custody," said Amnesty France president Anne Savinel-Barras.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 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

These are paraded the day before the official handover during a procession when married women march with wooden batons, called "siinqee".

From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2025

Finally they reached the Colosseum, where a dozen guys in cheap gladiator costumes were scuffling with the police—plastic swords versus batons.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

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