regalia

American  

[ri-gey-lee-uh, -geyl-yuh] / rɪˈgeɪ li ə, -ˈgeɪl jə /

plural noun

regalias plural

1. the ensigns or emblems of royalty, as the crown or scepter.

2. the decorations, insignia, or ceremonial clothes of any office or order.

3. rich, fancy, or dressy clothing; finery.

   guests wearing formal party regalia.

4. royal rights or privileges.

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regalia British  

/ rɪˈɡeɪlɪə /

plural noun

1. the ceremonial emblems or robes of royalty, high office, an order, etc

2. any splendid or special clothes; finery

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• regalias
  plural

Etymology

Origin of regalia

1530–40; < Medieval Latin rēgālia things pertaining to a king, noun use of neuter plural of Latin rēgālis regal ¹

Explanation

Regalia is clothing worn for formal functions by people who will be in the public eye. If you see Miss America at the grocery store, you might not recognize her because she's not wearing her pageant regalia. Regalia looks like regal and in fact, can refer to things owned by members of royalty that convey their official positions. Crowns, sashes, scepters, tiaras? Regalia. The prince's riding boots and the duchess's bath robes? Nope. Technically, regalia is a plural word, from Latin (the singular would be regalis) but it can be used with a singular or plural verb: Here is Queen Elizabeth's regalia. Her regalia are exquisite.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

regalia regalias

As she walked home two weeks ago, Hailey Contreras carried in a plastic grocery bag all the accolades and graduation regalia from a high school and college career bursting with acclaim.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026

The rising modern Japanese war machine recycled classical military symbols from samurai culture while adopting European military technology and regalia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026

When the Allies occupied defeated Germany, they systematically removed the symbols and regalia of Nazi rule, as at the Nazi Party’s rallying grounds at Nuremberg.

From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2026

The Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band which played it calls itself an "international Indian Pipe Band" that performs a mix of Indian and Scottish tunes while wearing complete Scottish regalia.

From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2025

Superimposed against the images of these peaks, the poster showed a grinning, bearded man in full alpine regalia.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Then a further line of big-handed, white-gloved men in beavers and regalias; for he had been also a Freemason and an Odd-fellow.

From Dr. Sevier by Cable, George Washington

When the men return to the mesa they remove their regalias and proceed to drink of the snake medicine which acts as an emetic.

From Arizona Sketches by Munk, J. A. (Joseph Amasa)

Many of the royal regalias are profusely inlaid with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and other precious stones,—forming an aggregated value too large for us to venture an estimate.

From Due North or Glimpses of Scandinavia and Russia by Ballou, Maturin Murray

I would offer him one of those choice regalias with which my case is well provided.

From The Adventures of a Special Correspondent by Verne, Jules

Many of the royal regalias are profusely inlaid with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and other precious stones, forming all together a value too large for us to venture an estimate.

From Foot-prints of Travel or, Journeyings in Many Lands by Ballou, Maturin Murray

Related Words

• insignia