armor

noun

ar·​mor ˈär-mər 

1

: defensive covering for the body

especially : covering (as of metal) used in combat

2

: a quality or circumstance that affords protection

the armor of prosperity

3

: a protective outer layer (as of a ship, a plant or animal, or a cable)

4

: armored forces and vehicles (such as tanks)

armor transitive verb

armorless

ˈär-mər-ləs 

adjective

Illustration of armor

• 1 helmet
• 2 gorget
• 3 shoulder piece
• 4 pallette
• 5 breastplate
• 6 brassard
• 7 elbow piece
• 8 skirt of tasses
• 9 tuille
• 10 gauntlet
• 11 cuisse
• 12 knee piece
• 13 jambeau
• 14 solleret

Synonyms

• aegis
• egis
• ammunition
• buckler
• cover
• defense
• guard
• protection
• safeguard
• screen
• security
• shield
• wall
• ward

Examples of armor in a Sentence

The officers are required to wear bulletproof body armor.

The shots penetrated the tank's armor.

The armadillo's armor consists of a series of small, bony plates.

a weapon designed for use against enemy armor

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, upgrading the forge lets players improve weapons and armor, while upgrading the dojo trains allies to learn new skills in order to help Naoe and Yasuke prepare for the threats that lie ahead. —George Yang, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025

Sure, the misguided invention is another ding to Jesse’s ego, but that armor is all but impenetrable by now, as is his status as leader of the family’s (hugely profitable) church. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025

Still looking for a crack in Trump's political armor, Democrats who just a year ago were cheering on President Joe Biden in his final State of the Union address spent the 2025 version holding up all manner of signs of protest. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025

The Russian onslaught has been costly in troops and armor but hasn’t brought a strategically significant breakthrough for the Kremlin. —TIME, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English armure, armoure "arms, body armor," borrowed from Anglo-French & continental Old French, going back to Latin armātūra "armament, troop" (Medieval Latin, "suit of armor") — more at armature

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing armor

• anti-armor
• armor-plated
• knight in shining armor
• scale armor

Rhymes for armor

• charmer
• harmer

Kids Definition

armor

noun

ar·​mor ˈär-mər 

1

: a covering (as of metal) to protect the body in battle

2

: a protective covering (as the steel sides of a battleship or the covering of an animal or plant)

3

: armored forces and vehicles (as tanks)