insignia

noun

in·​sig·​nia in-ˈsig-nē-ə 

variants or less commonly insigne

in-ˈsig-(ˌ)nē 

plural insignia or insignias

1

: a badge of authority or honor

2

: a distinguishing mark or sign

Did you know?

Insignia are the official signs of rank, titles, or awards. Medals are an example, as are the crowns of monarchs. The Catholic church employs such insignia as the red robes of cardinals. U.S. presidents have the presidential seal, which appears on the stand when they're giving a speech. But most of us think first of the bars, stripes, badges, and patches of military rank.

Examples of insignia in a Sentence

Their jackets have the school's insignia on the front.

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside, men were sleeping on cots under thin white blankets with the American Red Cross insignia. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025

Just past a wall installation of signature Siegelman caps brandished with the stable’s insignia is a mannequin rendering of the brand’s first-ever tracksuit, styled as a replica of the elder Siegelman’s jockey uniform from the 1980s. —Essence, 23 Dec. 2024

The match will also see AC Milan’s players wearing the special anniversary kit the club unveiled earlier this month and that resonated on social media for its old-school aesthetic, subtle placement of logos and overall scarcity of sponsors’ insignias. —Sandra Salibian, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024

It has also been depicted on postal stamps, quarters and the insignia of most military branches. —Sara Ruberg, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin insignia, plural of insigne mark, badge, from neuter of insignis marked, distinguished, from in- + signum mark — more at sign

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

insignia

noun

in·​sig·​nia in-ˈsig-nē-ə 

plural insignia or insignias

: an emblem of a special authority, office, or honor : badge