What does bandaid mean?
A bandaid is a small adhesive strip fitted with an absorbent pad, used to cover and protect minor cuts, blisters, and scrapes. The term comes from the Band-Aid brand introduced by Johnson & Johnson in 1920, and it remains primarily a North American word; speakers in Britain and many other regions say plaster or sticking plaster for the same object. Beyond its literal medical meaning, bandaid has developed a widely used figurative sense: a quick, superficial fix that masks a problem rather than solving it, as in calling legislation a bandaid solution. This metaphorical use carries a mildly critical connotation, implying insufficient depth or permanence. The word is informal in register but thoroughly established in everyday speech and journalism, making it useful both as a household vocabulary item and as a vivid way to describe stopgap measures.
A small adhesive bandage with a gauze pad used to protect minor wounds.
"He peeled off the bandaid once the cut had healed."
Figuratively, a temporary or cosmetic measure that fails to address the real underlying issue.
"Everyone agreed the patch was merely a bandaid until the system could be rebuilt."
Often used attributively, as in "bandaid solution" or "bandaid fix".
The plural follows the regular English pattern.
"She kept a box of bandaids in her desk drawer."
The Band-Aid was invented in 1920 by a cotton buyer named Earle Dickson so his accident-prone wife could dress her own cuts at home.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bandaid
The word bandaid originates from Band-Aid, a trademark registered by Johnson & Johnson after employee Earle Dickson invented the ready-made adhesive bandage in 1920 for his wife, who frequently cut herself while cooking. Like other famous trademarks, the brand name became genericized in American and Canadian English, written without capitalization to refer to any small adhesive strip. It combines "band," from the Germanic-rooted word for a binding strip, with "aid," borrowed from Old French "aide" and ultimately from Latin "adiutare," to help. In British English, where the trademark never became generic, "plaster" remains the standard term.
How bandaid is actually used
"Bandaid" is chiefly North American usage; British English uses "plaster" or "sticking plaster" instead. The word derives from the trademarked brand name Band-Aid and is often written capitalized when referring specifically to the branded product.
Easily confused with bandaid
"Band-Aid" is a trademarked Johnson & Johnson brand name (often capitalized), while "bandaid" is the common uncapitalized spelling used generically.