banner

1 of 3

noun

ban·​ner ˈba-nər How to pronounce banner (audio)
1
a
: a piece of cloth attached by one edge to a staff and used by a leader (such as a monarch or feudal lord) as a standard (see standard entry 1 sense 1)
b
: flag entry 2 sense 1
our nation's beloved banner
c
: an ensign displaying a distinctive or symbolic device or legend (see legend sense 2a)
especially : one presented as an award of honor or distinction
2
: a headline in large type running across a newspaper page
The banner read "Kennedy Wins."
3
: a strip of cloth on which a sign is painted
welcome banners stretched across the street
4
: a name, slogan, or goal associated with a particular group or ideology
the new banner is "community control"F. M. Hechinger
often used with under
every new administration arrives … under the banner of changeJohn Cogley
5
or or : an advertisement graphic (see graphic entry 2 sense 2b) that runs usually across the top of a World Wide Web page
6
or : the upper, large, often lobed petal of a papilionaceous flower (as of a pea or bean plant) : standard sense 8a, vexillum sense 3
The uppermost petal is the largest, and, since it is something like a flag, is sometimes called the banner.John Nelson
compare keel sense 2b, wing sense 2e(2)

banner

2 of 3

verb

bannered; bannering; banners

transitive verb

1
: to furnish with a banner
a bannered storefront
2
journalism : to print (a news story) under a headline in large type usually on the front page
News of the defeat was bannered in newspapers throughout the country.

banner

3 of 3

adjective

1
: prominent in support of a political party
a banner Democratic county
2
: distinguished from all others especially in excellence
a banner year for business

Examples of banner in a Sentence

Noun A banner was hung over the street advertising the local theater production. Banners were carried by members of each group marching in the parade. Adjective It was a banner year for the sales department. The team had a banner season last year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The banner will finance and produce film and TV projects, with an emphasis on elevated action, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy and comedy. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024 Officials said that commencement would include security screenings and registration for most events and that banners and flags would be prohibited. Daniella Silva, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for banner 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'banner.' 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

Middle English baner, banere, borrowed from Anglo-French baner, banere, baniere (also continental Old French), probably from ban "summon to arms by a king or lord" + -iere -er entry 2 — more at ban entry 2

Note: The assumption behind this etymology is that the word may have originally denoted the place where the men called to arms assembled, then the flag or pennant that marked that place. The alternative hypothesis that sees it as ultimately deriving from Gothic bandwa "sign" (see band entry 3) seems less likely. For the relation between this word and Old Occitan bandiera, see the etymology and note at banderole.

Verb

derivative of banner entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of banner entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of banner was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near banner

Cite this Entry

“Banner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banner. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

banner

1 of 2 noun
ban·​ner ˈban-ər How to pronounce banner (audio)
1
2
: a strip of cloth with a design, picture, or writing on it

banner

2 of 2 adjective
: unusually good : outstanding
a banner year for apples

More from Merriam-Webster on banner

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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