Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A badge of office, rank, membership, or nationality; an emblem.
  • noun A distinguishing sign.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Badges or distinguishing marks of office or honor: as, the insignia of an order of knighthood.
  • Marks, signs, or visible tokens by which anything is known or distinguished.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun plural Distinguishing marks of authority, office, or honor; badges; tokens; decorations.
  • noun plural Typical and characteristic marks or signs, by which anything is known or distinguished.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A patch or other object that indicates a person's official or military rank, or membership in a group or organization.
  • noun A symbol or token of personal power, status, or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a badge worn to show official position

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin īnsignia, pl. of īnsigne, badge of office, mark, from neuter of īnsignis, distinguished, marked : in-, in; see in– + signum, sign; see sekw- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin insignia, plural of īnsigne ("emblem, token, symbol").

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Examples

  • USAF Airman enlisted rank pin insignia set military AF

    SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles - Part 5781 2009

  • The insignia is supposed to be worn with the well-known Green Beret, said

    Ray Jennings 2010

  • However, he did NOT earn such a privilege, and wearing the SEAL “Trident” insignia is a violation of federal law

    Heroes or Villains? 2010

  • After all, Crips insignia is a healthy form of social rebellion against whatever.

    Hammer and Anvil 2007

  • Like the pillow the white on white design and three flag insignia is classic, elegant, and free of worry as the pillow features double stitching ensuring a sealed hypoallergenic pillow that no down will escape.

    A “Spruce Goose” of a Pillow 2006

  • Members of Bravo Company, whose insignia is the Grim Reaper, arrived in Kuwait on May 1, 2003, just as President Bush declared major combat operations over.

    Speaking of Purple Hearts... 2004

  • Members of Bravo Company, whose insignia is the Grim Reaper, arrived in Kuwait on May 1, 2003, just as President Bush declared major combat operations over.

    Damn them. 2004

  • Members of Bravo Company, whose insignia is the Grim Reaper, arrived in Kuwait on May 1, 2003, just as President Bush declared major combat operations over.

    Oh so pure... 2004

  • Members of Bravo Company, whose insignia is the Grim Reaper, arrived in Kuwait on May 1, 2003, just as President Bush declared major combat operations over.

    Archive 2004-06-01 2004

  • ".... there was a reason he wore captain insignia and it wasn't to promote himself."

    Heroes or Villains? 2010

Comments

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  • inSIGNia

    May 4, 2011

  • "Badges or distinguishing marks of office or honor: as, the insignia of an order of knighthood. The insignia of an honorary order are the crosses, medallions, stars, ribbons, etc., which are worn by its members on occasions of ceremony. Military men wear these when in uniform, and civilians when in evening dress. The size of each badge is fixed by statute of the order; but there has been introduced a custom of wearing miniature crosses, medallions, etc., a number of which can be worn at once suspended from a gold chain round the neck and hanging on the shirt-bosom, or attached to the lapel of the coat. When the cross, medallion, etc., is not worn, it is customary to wear a small rosette or knot of ribbon in the buttonhole, the color being that of the ribbon of the order. The knot or rosette is worn by members of the lowest class, the ribbon by all others."

    --Cent. Dict.

    September 20, 2012