bandage
B1Neutral, with specific technical use in medical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A strip of material used to bind up and protect a wound or injured body part.
Any strip of material used for binding, support, or decoration; metaphorically, something that temporarily addresses a problem without fixing its underlying cause.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, primarily denotes a medical dressing. As a verb, refers to the act of applying such a dressing. Figurative use is common in political and social commentary (e.g., 'a bandage solution').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'plaster' (UK) / 'band-aid' (US) for small adhesive strips, but 'bandage' is standard for rolled gauze/crepe.
Connotations
In figurative use, 'band-aid' is more common in American English as a metaphor for a temporary fix.
Frequency
Equally frequent and understood in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + bandage: apply, change, remove, wrap, securebandage + NOUN: roll, strip, scissors, dressingbandage + PREP: around (the arm), over (the wound), on (the finger)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a band-aid solution (chiefly US)”
- “put a bandage on it”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in figurative criticism: 'The policy is merely a financial bandage.'
Academic
Used in medical/nursing texts and historical studies of medicine.
Everyday
Very common in domestic first-aid contexts.
Technical
Specific in medicine (e.g., 'Tubigrip bandage', 'crepe bandage', 'triangular bandage').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The nurse will bandage your sprained ankle tightly.
- He quickly bandaged his cut finger before continuing the DIY.
American English
- Make sure to bandage the wound with clean gauze.
- She bandaged the dog's paw after removing the thorn.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. 'Bandage' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Bandage' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Bandage scissors are designed to slide under the dressing safely.
- The first aid kit includes bandage material.
American English
- The bandage adhesive was strong and waterproof.
- We need more bandage supplies for the clinic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a bandage on my knee.
- The doctor put a bandage on it.
- Do you need a bandage for that cut?
- She applied a clean bandage to the wound.
- You should change the bandage every day.
- He used an elastic bandage for support.
- The paramedic skilfully bandaged the deep laceration to stem the bleeding.
- Figuratively, the tax cut was just a bandage for the region's deeper economic woes.
- The new legislation was derided by critics as a mere bandage, failing to address the systemic inequality at the heart of the crisis.
- After the initial debridement, the wound was dressed with a sterile, non-adherent bandage and reviewed 48 hours later.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAND playing with an injured drummer – they need a BANDAGE to keep going.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE WOUNDS / SOLUTIONS ARE DRESSINGS ('a temporary bandage on the economy').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with 'бандаж' (bandazh), which in Russian often means a medical support belt or brace, not a wound dressing.
- The direct translation 'бинт' (bint) is closer for a rolled gauze bandage.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'bandage' (for wounds) with 'sling' (for supporting an arm).
- Using 'bandage' as a countable noun for small adhesive strips (prefer 'plaster' (UK) or 'band-aid' (US)).
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'He bandaged the wound' (correct) vs. 'He bandaged on the wound' (incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bandage' used figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a countable noun: 'I used three bandages.' Referring to the material, it's uncountable: 'We need more bandage.'
'Band-aid' is a US brand name for small adhesive plasters/strips. A 'bandage' is the general term for any strip of material used to bind a wound, including larger rolled gauze or elastic wraps.
Yes. It means to wrap or cover a wound with a bandage (e.g., 'The nurse bandaged my arm').
Yes. Common types include crepe/elastic bandages (for support), gauze rolls (for dressing), adhesive bandages (plasters), and triangular bandages (for slings).