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
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
Synonyms
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
While the musician shows no signs of surrender on the 17-track record, there are cracks in her armor.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
In each episode, participants don armor, grab swords, axes and other historical weapons, and then beat the living chivalry out of each other.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023
Mechanical systems can be hijacked by a malicious actor who finds chinks in their digital armor.
—Erica Lonergan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2023
Her gaze had settled somewhere around Boba’s chest, as if inspecting his armor.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023
Key examples are body armor, helmets, and rucksacks that are often too big for female soldiers and small-stature men.
—Lolita C. Baldor, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023
While Achilles sulks in his tent, his beloved comrade, Patroclus, who shares his bed, bravely joins the battle in Achilles’ armor.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
The mostly White men dressed in body armor and helmets, carrying bear spray, brass knuckles, guns and other weapons.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
Elsie can be seen from the back taking in a massive historic hall featuring suits of armor behind its velvet ropes.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
In each episode, participants don armor, grab swords, axes and other historical weapons, and then beat the living chivalry out of each other.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023
Mechanical systems can be hijacked by a malicious actor who finds chinks in their digital armor.
—Erica Lonergan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2023
Her gaze had settled somewhere around Boba’s chest, as if inspecting his armor.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023
Key examples are body armor, helmets, and rucksacks that are often too big for female soldiers and small-stature men.
—Lolita C. Baldor, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023
While Achilles sulks in his tent, his beloved comrade, Patroclus, who shares his bed, bravely joins the battle in Achilles’ armor.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
The mostly White men dressed in body armor and helmets, carrying bear spray, brass knuckles, guns and other weapons.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
Elsie can be seen from the back taking in a massive historic hall featuring suits of armor behind its velvet ropes.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'armor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of armor was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing armor
Dictionary Entries Near armor
Cite this Entry
“Armor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armor. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
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)
More from Merriam-Webster on armor
Nglish: Translation of armor for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of armor for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about armor
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