a HackerNoon project
Original · left

Banner (flag)

A long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or emblem.

First in use: ancient / pre-modern
Duplicate · right

Banner ad

A rectangular advertisement on a web page; the first ran on HotWired in 1994.

First in use: c. 1994

Banner / Banner (flag) / Banner ad

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
Status—
Duplicate share · 12 mo—
Last crossover—
Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Battle flags vs. the first web ad.

Which meaning of Banner is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Banner (flag) came first (ancient / pre-modern). Banner ad arrived in 1994. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Banner (flag)Banner ad
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · ancient / pre-modern

Banner (flag)

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Duplicate · c. 1994

Banner ad

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More duplicated terms

Design & UX