To remove a badge or emblem from someone or something, often as a form of disgrace or punishment.
From prefix de- (meaning to remove or reverse) + badge (a distinguishing mark or emblem). The word emerged in modern English to describe the act of stripping someone of their insignia or credentials.
Debadging is what happens when someone loses their credentials—literally or figuratively—and it's fascinating because the word captures that moment of public removal of status that badges represent, from military insignia to corporate titles.
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