variants
or British armour
1
: special clothing that people wear to protect their bodies from weapons
The officers are required to wear bulletproof body armor.
Note: Armor commonly refers to the heavy metal suits that men wore long ago when they fought in battles.
Note: A chink/crack in someone's or something's armor is a weakness that might cause someone or something to fail or to be defeated.
2
a
: a hard covering that protects something (such as a vehicle or an animal)
The shots penetrated/pierced the tank's armor.
an armor-plated vehicle [=a vehicle that is protected by armor; a vehicle that is covered in flat pieces of metal]
The armadillo's armor consists of a series of small, bony plates.
—often used before another nounThe ship's hull is reinforced with armor plate/plating.
b
: soldiers and vehicles (such as tanks) that are protected with armor
a weapon designed for use against enemy armor
Cite this Entry
“Armor.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/armor. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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