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
: 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
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Questions about disarming Hamas Central to Thursday’s discussions was creating an armed international stabilization force to keep security and ensure the disarming of the militant Hamas group, a key demand of Israel and a cornerstone of the ceasefire deal.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
King, who is charged with one count each of first degree murder and armed criminal action after allegedly fatally shooting his neighbor, Chris Wells, a 41-year-old father and husband, during a neighborhood dispute turned physical altercation, will now have to pay $3 million less to post bond.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
The goal is to construct a two-story facility that would house a state of the art training center where police would practice how to deal with armed attackers in complex buildings where tactics can vary depending on corners, doorways, stairwells and other features.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for armed
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Adjective
Hundreds of heavily armed troops and police swarm the National Assembly.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Questions about disarming Hamas Central to Thursday’s discussions was creating an armed international stabilization force to keep security and ensure the disarming of the militant Hamas group, a key demand of Israel and a cornerstone of the ceasefire deal.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
King, who is charged with one count each of first degree murder and armed criminal action after allegedly fatally shooting his neighbor, Chris Wells, a 41-year-old father and husband, during a neighborhood dispute turned physical altercation, will now have to pay $3 million less to post bond.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
The goal is to construct a two-story facility that would house a state of the art training center where police would practice how to deal with armed attackers in complex buildings where tactics can vary depending on corners, doorways, stairwells and other features.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for armed
Cite this Entry
“Armed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armed. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
armed
adjective1
: 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
adjective1
: having a weapon
an armed assailant
2
: involving the use of a weapon
an armed attack
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