broad arrow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Historical / Technical (Heraldry)
Quick answer
What does “broad arrow” mean?
A heraldic and practical symbol consisting of an arrow with a wide, flat head, traditionally used in British government property marking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heraldic and practical symbol consisting of an arrow with a wide, flat head, traditionally used in British government property marking.
Historically used to mark British government property (especially military supplies and convict uniforms); a heraldic charge resembling this arrowhead; a tool or weapon with such a broad, barbed head.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and its historical referent are almost exclusively British. In American English, the term is understood only in historical or heraldic contexts; there is no equivalent institutional use.
Connotations
In British English, it connotes institutional authority, government property, and historical penal/military systems. In American English, it lacks any institutional connotation and is purely descriptive or heraldic.
Frequency
Virtually never used in American English outside specialized fields. In British English, it appears in historical writing and documents related to heraldry or antiques.
Grammar
How to Use “broad arrow” in a Sentence
The (noun) bore/had/was marked with a/the broad arrow.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broad arrow” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The broad-arrow mark was faint but visible.
- It was a broad-arrow design on the shield.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, possibly in contexts of antique valuation or historical asset tracking.
Academic
Used in history, archaeology, and heraldry papers discussing British institutional practices.
Everyday
Extremely rare.
Technical
Used in heraldry, antique militaria/penology cataloguing, and archaeology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broad arrow”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broad arrow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broad arrow”
- Using it to describe a large modern arrow in general. Using it as a verb or adjective ('to broad-arrow something' is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency term with specific historical and technical applications.
Yes, but this is a secondary, less common meaning. Primarily, it refers to the symbolic mark.
No, the institutional use of the broad arrow mark is uniquely British. Americans may encounter the term only in historical contexts.
Use it as a compound noun, e.g., 'The artifact was identified by the broad arrow stamped upon it.'
A heraldic and practical symbol consisting of an arrow with a wide, flat head, traditionally used in British government property marking.
Broad arrow is usually formal / historical / technical (heraldry) in register.
Broad arrow: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɔːd ˈærəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbrɔːd ˈæroʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BROAD, flat-headed ARROW stamped on an old British military crate.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP IS A MARK (The broad arrow is a physical manifestation of state possession).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'broad arrow' most technically precise?