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

Wearing drill-sergeant regalia, Porowski instructs a group of hapless male shopper actors in such supermarket fundamentals as distinguishing celery from leeks, checking expiration dates and identifying ripe bananas.

From Salon ● Oct. 25, 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

And there they were, a dozen or two members of that marching band, in full regalia, with two people holding a “Happy Birthday Eva!” banner and the rest blasting out the familiar tune.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 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 gods arrived a few minutes later in their full war regalia, thundering into the throne room and expecting a battle.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

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

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 Maturin Murray Ballou

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

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 George Washington Cable

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Related Words

• insignia

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