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

Typically filled with dancing, tribal regalia and traditional songs, powwows provide a communal space for celebrating Indigenous heritage, said Cassie Bush, cultural coordinator for the Gun Lake Tribe, based in southwest Michigan. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 Mar. 2026

Sinead Gorey and Keburia stood out for weaving elements of military regalia into their designs, lending a sense of structure and ceremonial edge to their collections. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 3 Mar. 2026

Following the couple’s May 2018 nuptials, their wedding regalia went on display at Windsor Castle, as is tradition. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026

Andrew dressed in full military regalia in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Navy Aviation. —Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 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