ENGLISH
REFERENCE

insignia

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˈsɪɡˌniə// UK //ɪnsˈɪɡniɐ// in·signia

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.


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.

Origin

From Latin īnsīgnia, nominative plural of īnsīgne (“emblem, token, symbol”). Doublet of ensign.

Usage

Can be used as a singular noun ('an insignia') or as a collective plural ('the insignia were').

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