regalia
plural noun
Did you know?
Just as regal describes a king or queen—that is, a ruler—regalia originally meant the things, and especially the dress and decoration, that belong exclusively to a monarch. The British monarchy's regalia include the crown jewels (crown, scepter, orb, sword, etc.) that lend luster to royal coronations. Academic regalia—the caps, gowns, and hoods worn by students receiving their degrees—link institutions to their past by preserving the dress worn at universities since their beginnings in the Middle Ages, when long hooded robes were needed for warmth.
Examples of regalia in a Sentence
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 26 May 2025
Many others made the same trip in Leo’s first hours as pope, wanting to feel a connection with the South Sider who had just appeared in papal regalia on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Here singers, dancers and honorees, most dressed in regalia or traditional tribal attire and some barefoot, perform throughout the day.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
Highlights include Native American singers, drummers, and dancers in traditional regalia from across the Southwest sharing their traditions and passing on customs.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for regalia
Cite this Entry
“Regalia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regalia. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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regalia
singular or plural noun
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