armed

1 of 2

adjective (1)

Synonyms of armednext
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 2

adjective (2)

: 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
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Adjective
Bazemore was taken to the federal courthouse in Hartford and charged with second-degree murder while armed, officials said. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026 The passenger was able to exit the truck while the suspect, still armed with the knife, struggled with the driver. Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026 Such investigations only take place when a person killed by law enforcement is not armed. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026 Authorities got a huge break on Tuesday with the release of footage of an armed individual wearing a balaclava, gloves and a backpack approaching the front door of Guthrie’s Arizona home and tampering with a Nest camera the morning she was abducted. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for armed

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of armed was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Armed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armed. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

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
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
1
: having a weapon
an armed assailant
2
: involving the use of a weapon
an armed attack

More from Merriam-Webster on armed

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