Insignia



Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias (in Latin, insignia is the plural of singular insigne: emblem, symbol, ensign, badge of honor) : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction. An insignia is usually the emblem of a specific or general authority.

Typical examples of insignia are:
 * Badges
 * Cockades
 * Coats of arms and Heraldry
 * Ensigns
 * Flags of a country or state
 * Military aircraft insignia
 * Military rank and unit markings:
 * British Army officer rank insignia
 * British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
 * British Royal Air Force officer rank insignia
 * British Royal Air Force other rank insignia
 * British Royal Navy officer rank insignia
 * British Royal Navy ratings rank insignia
 * Croatian military ranks insignia
 * Nazi Party rank insignia
 * Polish Armed Forces rank insignia
 * U.S. Army officer rank insignia
 * U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia
 * U.S. Navy officer rank insignia
 * U.S. Navy enlisted rate insignia
 * United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia
 * United States Air Force officer rank insignia
 * United States Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia
 * United States Marine Corps officer rank insignia
 * Other National Emblems
 * Regalia
 * Crowns
 * Sceptres
 * Roundels
 * Seals
 * Shoulder patch, or shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI)

Official insignia are often protected by law as to allow their use only by people holding a specific office or staff members acting on behalf of such a person. Misuse, defacement and destruction of such symbols is considered an offense in many countries.