insignia

in·sig·ni·a

plural noun

sing. in·sig′ne

badges, emblems, or other distinguishing marks, as of rank, membership, etc.

Origin of insignia

L, plural of insigne, neuter of insignis, distinguished by a mark from in-, in + signum, a mark, sign

singular noun

pl. in·sig′ni·as

such a badge, emblem, etc.

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"insignia." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/insignia>.

APA Style

insignia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/insignia

insignia

also in·sig·ne

noun

pl. insignia, or in·sig·ni·as also in·sig·nes

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

Origin of insignia

Latin īnsignia pl. of īnsigne badge of office, mark from neuter of īnsignis distinguished, marked in- in ; see in- ². signum sign ; see sek^w-¹ in Indo-European roots.

Usage Note: Insignia in Latin is the plural form of insigne, but it has long been used in English as both a singular and a plural form: The insignia was visible on the wingtip. There are five insignia on various parts of the plane. From the singular use of insignia comes the plural insignias, which is also acceptable. The Latin singular insigne is largely restricted to military contexts; in other contexts, it may strike some as pedantic.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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