insignia

noun in·sig·nia \ in-ˈsig-nē-ə \

variants: or less commonly insigne play \in-ˈsig-(ˌ)nē\

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of insignia

plural insignia or insignias

1 : a badge of authority or honor

2 : a distinguishing mark or sign

See insignia defined for English-language learners

See insignia defined for kids

Examples of insignia in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of insignia from the Web

About four hours after the shooting, detectives investigating the slaying were in the area of the 200 block of North Karlov Avenue in an unmarked vehicle, wearing protective vest with the Chicago police insignia.

— deanese williams-harris, chicagotribune.com, "Man charged with first-degree murder in 2016 fatal shooting on West Side," 16 Mar. 2018
Her first product, a charcoal gray jacket emblazoned with a Harvard-esque insignia, did well on campus and quickly grew to more than a thousand monthly sales in China.

— nathaniel brooks horwitz, Town & Country, "How Mark Zuckerberg Changed the Culture of Harvard Forever," 24 May 2017
The Hashd still display their religious insignia at checkpoints on the highways (softened with plastic flowers), but in Sunni cities the policing is largely local.

— The Economist, "Fifteen years after America’s invasion, Iraq is getting back on its feet," 28 Mar. 2018
The fact that Meghan and her dad Thomas Markle Sr. get their very own insignia is a special gift indeed.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Meghan Markle and Her Father Will Reportedly Receive a Coat of Arms," 28 Mar. 2018
The police were not in uniform but were wearing athletic clothes with police insignia.

— BostonGlobe.com, "At least 3 dead after gunman attacks French supermarket," 23 Mar. 2018
The exhibit is divided into sections to address the powers of kings, persuasion and insignia.

— sarah maiellano, USA TODAY, "Best European museum exhibits: Pink Floyd, Dutch Masters and more," 26 Jan. 2018
Russia annexes Crimea from Ukraine, after the Kremlin sends in troops without insignia following the ouster of Ukraine's Russia-friendly president and stages a quick referendum on splitting from Ukraine.

— Fox News, "Significant moments in Putin's 18 years of power," 18 Mar. 2018
It is adorned with the Marine Corps globe-and-anchor insignia and has an ornate metal clasp.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Air Force sergeant posted video of her rant about black subordinates. Now she's suspended.," 31 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insignia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of insignia

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Heraldry Terms

blazon, cachet, couchant, dormant, escutcheon, potent, standard, totem

INSIGNIA Defined for English Language Learners

insignia

noun

Definition of insignia for English Language Learners

: a badge or sign which shows that a person is a member of a particular group or has a particular rank

INSIGNIA Defined for Kids

insignia

noun in·sig·nia \ in-ˈsig-nē-ə \

Definition of insignia for Students

plural insignia or insignias

: an emblem of a certain office, authority, or honor

Learn More about insignia

Spanish Central: Translation of insignia Nglish: Translation of insignia for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of insignia for Arabic speakers

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insignia

Definition of insignia

Examples of insignia in a Sentence

Recent Examples of insignia from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of insignia

Other Heraldry Terms

INSIGNIA Defined for English Language Learners

insignia

Definition of insignia for English Language Learners

INSIGNIA Defined for Kids

insignia

Definition of insignia for Students

Learn More about insignia

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insignia

Definition of insignia

Examples of insignia in a Sentence

Recent Examples of insignia from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of insignia

Other Heraldry Terms

INSIGNIA Defined for English Language Learners

insignia

Definition of insignia for English Language Learners

INSIGNIA Defined for Kids

insignia

Definition of insignia for Students

Learn More about insignia

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