regalia

plural noun

re·​ga·​lia ri-ˈgāl-yə 

1

: royal rights or prerogatives

2

a

: the emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia indicative of royalty

b

: decorations or insignia indicative of an office or membership

3

: special dress

especially : finery

Did you know?

Just as regal describes a king or queen—that is, a ruler—regalia originally meant the things, and especially the dress and decoration, that belong exclusively to a monarch. The British monarchy's regalia include the crown jewels (crown, scepter, orb, sword, etc.) that lend luster to royal coronations. Academic regalia—the caps, gowns, and hoods worn by students receiving their degrees—link institutions to their past by preserving the dress worn at universities since their beginnings in the Middle Ages, when long hooded robes were needed for warmth.

Synonyms

• attire
• costume
• finery

Examples of regalia in a Sentence

was impressed with the regalia of the women at the ball

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the boys was holding a huge sandwich, and the girls were decked out in the regalia of young goth and metal fans the world over. —Alireza Iranmehr, The Atlantic, 2 July 2025

In a series of photos posted by his proud dad, Hunter is seen posing with his parents and dressed in his graduation day regalia. —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 18 May 2025

The Native American cultural events include dancers dressed in tribal regalia, PowWows.com says. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 22 July 2025

During this time, the key items of regalia were the crown and scepter. —Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, neuter plural of regalis

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for regalia

• azalea
• mammalia
• vidalia
• marginalia
• saturnalia
• terminalia
• paraphernalia
• thalia

Kids Definition

regalia

singular or plural noun

re·​ga·​lia ri-ˈgāl-yə 

1

: the emblems and symbols (as the crown) of royalty

2

: the emblem of an office or association

3

: special dress : finery