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

• array
• best
• bravery
• caparison
• feather
• finery
• frippery
• full dress
• gaiety
• gayety
• glad rags

Examples of regalia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Proud parents Donna and Ed Kelce were also on hand to celebrate the moment at Fifth Third Arena, when university president Dr. Neville Pinto — in full graduation regalia — presented the Kelce brothers with their diplomas, the outlet reported. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

First, Beyoncé arrived at the 2024 Grammy Awards in full cowboy regalia — making a statement without saying a word. —Maria Sherman, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024

At one point, his online store, Forbidden Apparel, offered a rather ornate Shaman American flag featuring an image of Jacob in full regalia superimposed onto the Stars and Stripes, his mouth open mid-chant, his staff with stainless-steel finial gleaming like a bayonet. —Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024

Madonna fans in their regalia — but last summer’s blockbuster tours have upped the ante. —Callie Holtermann Molly Matalon, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024

The video shows Ortega mockingly singing and playing a drum as Indigenous dancers in their powwow regalia watched. —The Arizona Republic, 10 Feb. 2024

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) was in full MAGA regalia, complete with red hat. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024

The designer’s work references traditional regalia, incorporating elements such as feathers and ribbons that are typically worn by powwow dancers into designs that are voluminous and avant-garde. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2024

As soon as the four singers entered the dental office, in their striped barbershop regalia, word got around and the waiting room filled with surprised patients. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, neuter plural of regalis

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

regalia

noun singular or plural

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