1
a
: furnished with weapons
an armed guard
also
: using or involving a weapon
b
: furnished with something that provides security, strength, or efficacy
armed with knowledge
2
: marked by the maintenance of armed forces in readiness
: having an arm or arms especially of a specified kind or number
—usually used in combination
long-armed
two-armed
Examples of armed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 May 2024
An armed environmental group allied with Guy Philippe, who was part of a 2004 coup that ousted a former Haitian president and who recently returned to Haiti after serving six years in a U.S. federal prison, has clashed with government forces and demanded Henry’s ouster.
—Andre Paultre, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Despite achieving one of their main demands, the ouster of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, armed groups have continued their attacks.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
The armed student was shot and killed by Mount Horeb police officers and never made it inside the school, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said at a news conference in Mount Horeb that evening.
—Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
But encouraging armed self-defense also creates deep expectations in the U.S. that gun ownership is absolute, experts say.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
Lester surrendered to police days later after being charged with first-degree assault, a felony, and armed criminal action.
—Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2024
Neighbors say they were shocked after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies fatally shot an armed man in Mesa on Thursday morning.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
The first aircraft to land on the country’s main runway since an insurgency by armed groups forced the cancellation of all domestic and international flights into the capital nearly two months ago, the military aircraft landed shortly before 11 a.m.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The juvenile was initially charged on May 12, 2023, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action by the Office of the Juvenile Officer, which handles prosecution in criminal cases involving minors.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 May 2024
An armed environmental group allied with Guy Philippe, who was part of a 2004 coup that ousted a former Haitian president and who recently returned to Haiti after serving six years in a U.S. federal prison, has clashed with government forces and demanded Henry’s ouster.
—Andre Paultre, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Despite achieving one of their main demands, the ouster of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, armed groups have continued their attacks.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
The armed student was shot and killed by Mount Horeb police officers and never made it inside the school, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said at a news conference in Mount Horeb that evening.
—Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
But encouraging armed self-defense also creates deep expectations in the U.S. that gun ownership is absolute, experts say.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
Lester surrendered to police days later after being charged with first-degree assault, a felony, and armed criminal action.
—Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2024
Neighbors say they were shocked after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies fatally shot an armed man in Mesa on Thursday morning.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
The first aircraft to land on the country’s main runway since an insurgency by armed groups forced the cancellation of all domestic and international flights into the capital nearly two months ago, the military aircraft landed shortly before 11 a.m.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'armed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near armed
Cite this Entry
“Armed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armed. Accessed 9 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
armed
adjective1
: having an arm or arms especially of a specified kind or number
—usually used in combination
long-armed
two-armed
2
: having a spiny rostellum
a tapeworm armed with numerous hammer-shaped hooks
Legal Definition
armed
adjective1
: having a weapon
an armed assailant
2
: involving the use of a weapon
an armed attack
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