insignia

noun

in·​sig·​nia in-ˈsig-nē-ə How to pronounce insignia (audio)
variants or less commonly insigne
in-ˈsig-(ˌ)nē How to pronounce insignia (audio)
plural insignia or insignias
Synonyms of insignia
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Competitive admission to the academy, rank insignia on every uniform, exactly one captain per ship. — Gautam Mukunda, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 George Washington created a system to designate rank, but for noncommissioned officers, these insignias amounted to little more than colored strips of cloth or ribbon. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026 The ​pitch is reinforced by the document’s anime-style cover, which depicts a smiling family in a gleaming cityscape rather than ​the troops, weapons and military insignia featured on many previous editions. — Reuters, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 Commanders lauded the crew's superb performance, with 22 sailors earning their prestigious submarine warfare insignia. — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for insignia

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of insignia was in 1648

Browse Nearby Words

insightful
insignia
insignificance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insignia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insignia. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

insignia

noun
in·​sig·​nia in-ˈsig-nē-ə How to pronounce insignia (audio)
plural insignia or insignias
: an emblem of a special authority, office, or honor : badge

More from Merriam-Webster on insignia

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for insignia

Nglish: Translation of insignia for Spanish Speakers

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