Insignia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the electronics brand-name of the same name, see Best Buy

For the Cruise Ship Insignia see Oceania Cruises

For the General Motors car Insignia see Opel Insignia

Insignia (the plural of Latin insigne: emblem, symbol) is a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction. Insignia are especially used as an emblem of a specific or general authority.

Typical examples of insignia are:

• Crowns
• Flags of a country or state
• Coats of arms and Heraldry
• Seals
• Ensigns
• Roundels
• Badges
• Cockades

• Other National Emblems
• Shoulder patch, or shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI)
• Military rank and unit markings:
  • British Army officer rank insignia
  • British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
  • Croatian military ranks 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
  • Polish Armed Forces rank insignia
  • Nazi Party rank insignia

Official insignia are often protected by law as to allow their use only by people holding a specific office or staff members action on behalf of such a person. Misuse, defacement and destruction of such symbols is considered an offense in many countries.^[clarify]cs:Insignie de:Insigne hu:Koronázási jelvények mk:Обележја nl:Insigne pl:Insygnia simple:Insignia sl:Insignija fi:Insignia sv:Insignier