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

The insignia in the upper left of the original video belongs to the IDF’s Givati Brigade, which the IDF says has been operating in the area. —Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026

By war’s end Disney animators had designed insignia for over twelve hundred military units. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

At one six-story abandoned scam center in the Cambodian border town of O’Smach, investigators found rooms kitted out to resemble the offices of police forces from Australia, Brazil, Singapore, and China, complete with fake uniforms, insignia, and identity cards. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026

The excavation has yielded shoes, clothing fragments, clay pipes, uniform insignia, weapons, two cannons and bottles — along with what may be the remains of one of 19 crew members listed as missing after the battle. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026

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