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

This act would also ban facial coverings and require law enforcement officers and DHS agents to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining individuals. —Nidia Cavazos, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

The name emerged in the 1990s, after Venezuelan generals and commanders – who wore sun insignias on their epaulettes – were investigated for drug trafficking and related crimes, according to the think tank InsightCrime. —Michael Rios, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025

Once gathered, the former samurai find a squad of guards in all-black, military-style outfits (notably without any official insignias), who lay out the rules of the Kodoku game. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

Some of the bags were printed in Spanish with the insignia of the IOM, the United Nations' International Organization for Migration, which had distributed the bags to migrants. —Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025

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