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 of armor

• ammunition
• defense
• shield
• protection
• weapon
• safeguard
• wall

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

Militaries in Europe and Asia widely use wooden, metal-frame, or inflatable decoy vehicles to simulate enemy armor, artillery, air defense systems, and command posts during exercises. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025

Suits of plate armor were developed back in the Middle Ages. —Deena Prichep, NPR, 27 Nov. 2025

Turning Slater into the iconic Wizard of Oz character took about five hours in the chair, and involved a collaboration between the makeup, prosthetics and costume teams, as the silver elements of Nessarose’s office are shown affixing themselves to him to create his armor. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025

Local authorities arrested Garner that day and found multiple guns, body armor, a tactical vest and a large supply of ammo in his vehicle, per OPB. —Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 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)