regalia

American  

[ri-gay-lee-uh, -gayl-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

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Etymology

Origin of regalia

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

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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

The English and Normans share a regalia of chain mail, teardrop-shaped shields and long spears, but the Normans are cavalrymen while the Saxons fight with spears and clubs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

He pushes past marching bands with their instruments held high and parade spectators decked out in red, white and blue regalia.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

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 State Opening of Parliament is the most British of occasions - and today it had the most British of ingredients: royals, regalia and rain.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

Even though he had been seeing her outfits for years, the sight of his mother in full regalia always slightly appalled his valve.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Tom felt that it would be uncivil to refuse this orthodox offer, and took his beer accordingly, after which his host produced a box of Hudson's regalias, and proposed to look at the stables.

From Tom Brown at Oxford by Thomas Hughes

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

From The Adventures of a Special Correspondent by Jules Verne

I put another hundred in a couple of cases of Bordeaux, two quarts of cognac, two hundred Havana regalias with gold bands, and a camp stove and stools and folding cots.

From The Gentle Grafter by H. C. Greening

I brought him a pony of brandy and his black coffee, and set the box of Havana regalias on the table.

From The Gentle Grafter by H. C. Greening

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 Maturin Murray Ballou

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Related Words

• insignia

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