Word
insignia
Phoneticsin·signia
US/ˌɪnˈsɪɡˌniə/
UK/ɪnsˈɪɡniɐ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a special sign or mark that shows someone's rank or membership in a group. You often see these on military uniforms or police badges.
n. a badge or distinguishing mark of military rank, office, or membership in an organisation. Often used in the plural form to refer to the collective set of symbols on a uniform.
Examples
“The officer wore silver insignia on his shoulders.”
“The pilot's jacket featured the official insignia of the air force stitched onto the left sleeve.”
“Historians can often identify the specific unit and rank of a soldier by examining the unique insignia found on buttons and belt buckles recovered from the site.”
Examples
simple
“The officer wore silver insignia on his shoulders.”
contextual
“The pilot's jacket featured the official insignia of the air force stitched onto the left sleeve.”
complex
“Historians can often identify the specific unit and rank of a soldier by examining the unique insignia found on buttons and belt buckles recovered from the site.”
Usage
Can be used as a singular noun ('an insignia') or as a collective plural ('the insignia were').
Real-World Examples
“The statue is heavily damaged, with its head removed and its arms and royal insignia worn away.” “Teens representing different neighborhoods often fused the two, explains Price, by spray-painting insignia on their jean jackets.” Etymology
From Latin īnsīgnia, nominative plural of īnsīgne (“emblem, token, symbol”). Doublet of ensign.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/insignia