In
heraldry, an
augmentation (often termed
augmentation of honour or sometimes
augmentation of arms) is a modification or addition to a
coat of arms, typically given by a
monarch as either a mere mark of favour, or a reward or recognition for some meritorious act. The grants of entire new coats by monarchs as a reward are not augmentations, but rather
grants of arms, and (in theory) an augmentation mistakenly given to someone who did not have a right to a coat would be nugatory.