ENGLISH
REFERENCE

regalia

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ɹɪˈɡeɪɫjə// UK //ɹɪɡˈeɪliə// re·galia Archaic

n. the special clothes and decorations that people wear to show they have a high rank or are part of a special group. You often see this at university graduation ceremonies or for judges and kings.

n. the distinctive clothing, insignia, and other symbols of office or rank worn by members of a specific group or during a formal ceremony.


SIMPLE

The graduates wore their ceremonial regalia for the photo.

CONTEXTUAL

The university president arrived in full regalia, including the velvet robe and the heavy gold chain.

COMPLEX

While the modern ceremony is largely symbolic, the preservation of traditional regalia remains a point of pride for the institution, reflecting centuries of academic heritage and hierarchy.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English regalie, from Medieval Latin rēgālia (“royal powers”), substantivisation of the neuter plural of rēgālis (“of a king”), from rēx (“king”). By surface analysis, regal + -ia.

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