insignia

C1 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ɪnˈsɪɡniə/ UK /ɪnˈsɪɡniə/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a badge or emblem of authority or honor

The officer's uniform was adorned with the insignia of his rank.
2

noun
a distinguishing mark or sign of anything

The company's logo served as its insignia in the marketplace.
3

noun
a distinguishing military mark or device of rank or membership

The patch on his sleeve was the insignia of his regiment.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a badge or emblem of... emblem badge crest symbol mark

2 noun · a distinguishing mark or... emblem badge token sign seal

3 noun · a distinguishing military... patch stripe chevron epaulet badge

Simplified etymology

Insignia, recorded from the mid-17th century, comes ultimately from Latin signum “a sign.” It is historically related to sign, signal, design, designate, and ensign.

Etymology

From Latin insignis ('distinguished, marked'), giving the plural insignia ('emblems, badges'); via Old French enseigne and Middle English ensigne ('badge, emblem') into Modern English insignia ('emblems or symbols of authority').

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# insignia

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈsɪɡniə/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈsɪɡniə/

## Meanings
1. a badge or emblem of authority or honor
2. a distinguishing mark or sign of anything
3. a distinguishing military mark or device of rank or membership

## Examples
- The officer's uniform was adorned with the insignia of his rank.
- The company's logo served as its insignia in the marketplace.
- The patch on his sleeve was the insignia of his regiment.

## Synonyms
- emblem
- badge
- crest
- symbol
- mark
- token
- sign
- seal
- patch
- stripe
- chevron
- epaulet

## Etymology
From Latin insignis ('distinguished, marked'), giving the plural insignia ('emblems, badges'); via Old French enseigne and Middle English ensigne ('badge, emblem') into Modern English insignia ('emblems or symbols of authority').

## AI Etymology
Insignia comes from Latin insignis ('distinguished, marked'), giving the plural insignia ('emblems, badges'); via Old French enseigne and Middle English ensigne ('badge, emblem') into Modern English insignia ('emblems or symbols of authority'). In current use it is a noun meaning "a badge or emblem of authority or honor". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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