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 of regalia

• attire
• costume
• finery
• apparel

Examples of regalia in a Sentence

was impressed with the regalia of the women at the ball

Recent Examples on the Web

During the latest episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Marvel star shared how he’d been surprised by a random visit from Avengers costar Anthony Mackie, who appeared on the Brand New Day set in full Captain America regalia. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026

The second edition of the biennial event will bring together museum specialists, historians, gemologists and other experts for presentations and panel discussions exploring the history, artistry and preservation of royal regalia. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday — in his full Ebenezer Scrooge regalia. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 23 July 2026

The physical strain is immense—his face flushes crimson under the regalia—but his consciousness is no longer entirely his own. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026

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