armed

1 of 3

adjective (1)

ˈärmd 

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

armed

2 of 3

adjective (2)

: having an arm or arms especially of a specified kind or number

—usually used in combination

long-armed

two-armed

armed

3 of 3

past tense and past participle of arm entry 2

Examples of armed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Three children and a teacher were gunned down Thursday afternoon in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, and the 16-year-old suspect was fatally shot by an armed bystander, according to police. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026

An armed security officer nearby opened fire, striking the man at least once, Calzada said. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

In another, armed agents physically carried a man out of a Rancho Cucamonga courthouse and placed him in an unmarked Sport Utility Vehicle, the attorney general said. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026

But with so many armed actors and so much meddling going on in each other’s countries, a regional conflagration becomes increasingly likely. — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English, from past participle of armen "to arm entry 2"

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective (2)

1500, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing armed

• armed and dangerous
• armed forces
• armed robbery
• armed to the teeth
• heavily armed
• one-armed bandit

Rhymes for armed

• alarmed
• disarmed
• unarmed
• unharmed
• charmed
• farmed
• harmed

Kids Definition

armed

adjective

1

: furnished with weapons

an armed guard

2

: furnished with something that provides security or strength

armed with knowledge

Medical Definition

armed

adjective

ˈärmd 

1

: 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

adjective

ˈärmd 

1

: having a weapon

an armed assailant

2

: involving the use of a weapon

an armed attack