tag

1 of 5

noun (1)

plural tags
1
: a loose hanging piece of cloth : tatter
2
: a metal or plastic binding on an end of a shoelace
3
: a piece of hanging or attached material
specifically : a loop, knot, or tassel on a garment
4
a
: a brief quotation used for rhetorical emphasis or sententious effect
b
: a recurrent or characteristic verbal expression
5
a
: a cardboard, plastic, or metal marker used for identification or classification
license tags
b
: a descriptive or identifying epithet
c
: something used for identification or location : flag
e
f
: an element of code in a computer document used especially to control format and layout or to establish a hyperlink
g
: hashtag
… nuns shared their daily lives on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter with the tag #MediaNuns …Elizabeth Bruenig
h
: a string of text (such as the symbol @ followed by a person's username) that is used to tag a person or account in a social media post
While it's impossible to prohibit a friend from tagging you, Facebook allows you to review all tags before they appear on your profile.Lara Webster
6
: a detached fragmentary piece : bit
7
: a graffito in the form of an identifying name or symbol

tag

2 of 5

verb (1)

tagged; tagging; tags

transitive verb

1
: to provide or mark with or as if with a tag: such as
a
: to supply with an identifying marker or price
was tagged at $4.95
b
: to provide with a name or epithet : label, brand
tagged him a has-been
c
: to put a ticket on (a motor vehicle) for a traffic violation
d
: to deface with a graffito usually in the form of the defacer's nickname
e
: to supply (something, such as a social media post) with a hashtag
Don't forget to submit your photos of Montreal via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by tagging them with #ThisMtl.Montreal Gazette
f
: to mention (another person or account) in a social media post in a way that causes the person or account to be notified of the post
On Facebook, if someone wants to get your attention or make it clear to others that you are somehow connected to a post, they can tag you in it. Your name will be mentioned in the post or with the photo, and everyone else who sees it will also know that you are mentioned.Dave Johnson
Knowing how to tag someone on Facebook means also knowing how to tag someone on Twitter and Instagram. Simply use the @ symbol to start a tag.ThriveHive.com
My friends went back and tagged me in all the photos I'd missed …Rachel Kraus
Instagram allows users to reshare posts they've been tagged in to their own Story.Devon Delfino
2
: to attach as an addition : append
3
: to follow closely and persistently
4
: to hold to account
especially : to charge with violating the law
was tagged for … assault Burt Woolis
5

intransitive verb

: to keep close
tagging at their heelsCorey Ford

tag

3 of 5

noun (2)

1
: a game in which the player who is it chases others and tries to touch one of them who then becomes it
2
: an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball

tag

4 of 5

verb (2)

tagged; tagging

transitive verb

1
a
: to touch in or as if in a game of tag
b
: to put out (a runner) in baseball by a touch with the ball or the gloved hand containing the ball
2
: to hit solidly
3
: to choose usually for a special purpose : select
4
: to make a hit or run off (a pitcher) in baseball
the batter tagged him for a home run

TAG

5 of 5

abbreviation

the adjutant general

Examples of tag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Experts have been aware of the tags' vulnerabilities since their release in April 2021. CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024 Pittman, who was originally given the franchise tag from the Colts, agreed to a three-year $70 million deal which works out to $23.3 million APY. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 Two suitcases in the back of the vehicle had cruise tags. USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024 This time, the tag on the checkpoint’s wall doesn’t serve as a welcome. Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024 Debora drew in notebooks at school, at home under his mother’s coffee table and in tags on the concrete channels of the Los Angeles River and across multiple schools where he was kicked out for fighting. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 The fabric is opaque, and the shirt has no tags for a smooth finish. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Playing tag, running around the trees, building log cabins with sticks, were a few memories Karazissis remembers. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 There are neat tags on the side of the seat for the baby’s tactile exploration, and a convenient flap over the harness buckle keeps it out of their reach. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Coco Gauff recently enjoyed some downtime with her friends and fellow tennis stars, Ben Shelton and Chris Eubanks, Gauff, 20, was tagged in an Instagram photo shared by Shelton, 21, on Tuesday, and the tennis star reposted the picture to her story. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 The mountain lion had not been previously tagged or marked by researchers. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 That could be reason the Cowboys chose to tag him at end. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024 How much an offender gets tagged can be tied to intent, Sanchez said. Jim Radcliffe, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 When third baseman Jared Sprague-Lott couldn't make the catch, Carson Garner tried to score from third base and was tagged out by McEntire in a rundown for a double play. Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Scientists used to tag the beluga whales by shooting pins through their fins. Sophy Roberts, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 For a bonus entry, share a post to their story and tag both brands. Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Le Vaughn also tagged the clothing brand in outfit pictures from New Year’s Day in January 2024. Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tag.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English tagge; akin to Middle Low German tagge, tacke twig, spike

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1627, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tag was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tag

Cite this Entry

“Tag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tag. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tag

1 of 4 noun
1
: a loose hanging piece of cloth : tatter
2
: a metal or plastic binding on an end of a shoelace
3
4
a
: something (as a marker) used for identification
specifically : hangtag
b
: a part of a computer file that controls the format or layout of a document or that indicates a hyperlink (as "〈it〉" to indicate italic type)

tag

2 of 4 verb
tagged; tagging
1
: to provide or mark with or as if with a tag
2
: to follow closely and continuously
3

tag

3 of 4 noun
1
: a game in which one player who is it chases the others and tries to touch one of them to make that person it
2
: an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball

tag

4 of 4 verb
tagged; tagging
1
: to touch in a game of tag
2
: to put out (a runner) in baseball by touching with the ball or with the gloved hand holding the ball
Etymology

Noun

Middle English tagge "a hanging piece of loose cloth"; of Germanic origin

Noun

origin unknown

Medical Definition

tag

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a shred of flesh or muscle
b
: a small abnormal projecting piece of tissue especially when potentially or actually neoplastic in character
2
: label

tag

2 of 2 transitive verb
tagged; tagging
: label
tagged antibodies

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