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

Detectives found a Ka-Bar brand leather knife sheath that included the U.S. Marine Corps stamped insignia at the crime scene in Moscow next to one of the victims and later discovered DNA on its button snap, according to a probable cause affidavit. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2025

For the smiley insignia here is the mark of notorious Happy Face serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025

Hours before the César Awards, Roberts also received the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in English) by the French Minister of Culture. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025

Partial to pink, especially hot pink, Hecker was also high on anything with heart insignias. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 3 Mar. 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