insignia
noun
in·sig·nia
in-ˈsig-nē-ə 
variants
or less commonly insigne
plural insignia or insignias
1
: a badge of authority or honor
2
: a distinguishing mark or sign
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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
This being Washington, the decorations featured an eagle in flight, but, unlike the eagle on the Executive Branch club’s insignia, this one clutched photos of Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg, dressed in tuxedos.
—
Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Courts have upheld this, as seen in cases like United States v. Sindel (1995), where misuse of government insignia was penalized.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
False representation of an election official now requires a person to knowingly act with intent to deceive, including by using phone, email, websites, or official seals or insignia to impersonate the secretary of state, county election officers, or their employees.
—Tyler Kirby, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
With or without their Nazi insignia, the 2025 Banderistas are essentially the same as their 1940s forbearers.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for insignia
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Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Courts have upheld this, as seen in cases like United States v. Sindel (1995), where misuse of government insignia was penalized.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
False representation of an election official now requires a person to knowingly act with intent to deceive, including by using phone, email, websites, or official seals or insignia to impersonate the secretary of state, county election officers, or their employees.
—Tyler Kirby, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
With or without their Nazi insignia, the 2025 Banderistas are essentially the same as their 1940s forbearers.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for insignia
Cite this Entry
“Insignia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insignia. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insignia
noun
in·sig·nia
in-ˈsig-nē-ə
plural insignia or insignias
: an emblem of a special authority, office, or honor : badge
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