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

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

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

A 2021 photograph by Maree Clarke is an exception; family members in traditional regalia are seated by a reed canoe, with the skyline of Melbourne in the background, powerfully fusing past and present.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

Community support is what motivated Wrinkle Jingle Jangle, aka Mark Chatham, to wander the festival in dazzling elf regalia, passing out small gifts to children.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

Werner is summoned by an eleven-year-old in full regalia to the commandant’s office.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

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 Greening, H. C.

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 Greening, H. C.

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)

They have had an afternoon's boating on the river; and, now returned to the "Harp"—their place of put-up—are flush of talk over their adventures, quaffing the sham "shammy," and smoking "regalias," not anything more genuine.

From Gwen Wynn by Reid, Mayne

Wolfenden groaned inwardly, for his regalias were priceless and not to be replaced; but he said nothing.

From Mysterious Mr. Sabin by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)

Related Words

• insignia