ɪn mˈɑːdɚn hˈɛɹəldɹi, ɐ ɹˈɔɪəl sˈaɪfɚɹ ɪz ɐ mˈɑːnoʊɡɹˌæm ɔːɹ mˈɑːnoʊɡɹˌæmlˈaɪk dɪvˈaɪs əvə kˈʌntɹiz ɹˈeɪnɪŋ sˈɑːvɚɹˌɪn, tˈɪpɪkli kənsˈɪstɪŋ ʌvðɪ ɪnˈɪʃəlz ʌvðə mˈɑːnɚks nˈeɪm ænd tˈaɪɾəl, sˈʌmtaɪmz ˌɪntɚwˈoʊvən ænd ˈɔfən sɚmˈaʊntᵻd baɪ ɐ kɹˈaʊn.
In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram or monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown.