armed

1 of 2

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 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

Adjective

This was one of the city's most impenetrable buildings, surrounded by armed guards, made to look uninviting and unappealing. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

The armed men also hit a 23-year-old man in the head during the incident. —Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile Beirut, caught between its adversary Israel and a powerful armed domestic group in Hezbollah, risks being squeezed out, an expert argued. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 23 Apr. 2026

Congo, already hosting over 600,000 refugees and in an active armed conflict, is not considered a safe or suitable resettlement option, VanDiver said. —Mariam Khan, ABC News, 22 Apr. 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