plural shields
1
: a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm
2
: something or someone that protects or defends : defense
A healthy lifestyle may act as a shield against preventable diseases.
3
a
: a device or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier
They were covered head to toe in protective gear—rubber boots, gowns, aprons, gloves, masks, head caps and plastic eye shields.—
Blaine Harden
see also dress shield, face shield, heat shield, windshield
Blaine Harden
b
: a protective structure (such as a carapace, scale, or plate) of some animals
4
: escutcheon
especially
: one that is wide at the top and rounds to a point at the bottom
5
: the Precambrian nuclear mass of a continent that is surrounded and sometimes covered by sedimentary rocks
6
: something resembling a shield: such as
a
b
: a police officer's badge
c
: a decorative or identifying emblem
shielded; shielding; shields
1
a
: to protect with or as if with a shield : provide with a protective cover or shelter
b
: to cut off from observation : hide
2
obsolete
: forbid
shielder
noun
Synonyms
Examples of shield in a Sentence
Noun
the heat shield on a space shuttle
the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies
Verb
celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public
she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
Recent Examples on the WebHannah Fingerhut, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024
In the body camera footage, police officers were observed gathering behind a riot shield before advancing toward Shanahan, who was now lying motionless on the ground.
—The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2024
The purpose of the new rule is twofold, officials said: first, to pull legitimate sellers into the regulatory sunlight and, second, to deprive brokers who knowingly traffic in criminal gun sales of a legal shield provided by the vagaries of federal firearms laws.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Apr. 2024
Our tester appreciated the snug fit that kept breast shields and bottles in place, but recommended checking the size guide before buying one for yourself.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
Zelensky has said Ukraine needs 26 to create a total air shield over Ukraine, but Kuleba is initially focused on obtaining seven as quickly as possible.
—Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
High above Antarctica, a massive hole had opened in the ozone shield that protects life on earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
At least that was the shield when he was criticized.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Fortunately, there's a robust solution to help minimize such interruptions to your computing time: AdGuard.
AdGuard is not only an ad-blocker but also a digital shield for users and their devices.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
The cost and complexity of ASML’s business has helped shield the company from competition.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
Ever protective of her children with Chris, Taya, now 49, shielded them from the public eye in the years after their father died.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
In their first encounter, Lee lectures Jessie about safety, handing her a bright yellow vest, then shields her during an explosion.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The loudest voices on the political spectrum make competing arguments: that Trump has been unfairly targeted because of his political views and that his status as a candidate has unjustly shielded him from a criminal reckoning.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
On a hilltop near the Gaza border is a daycare center, with a new concrete wall shielding it, and a soldier standing out front.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Though Alabama legislators later passed a law shielding patients and providers from any liability for destroying embryos, Harrolle was shaken, worried for those in the thick of IVF.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Former President Donald Trump's $175 million bond in his New York civil fraud case may not meet legal requirements for shielding his assets during his appeal, according New York Attorney General Letitia James.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
Stung by paying billions of dollars for settlements and trials, chemical giant Bayer has been lobbying lawmakers in three states to pass bills providing it a legal shield from lawsuits that claim its popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024
In the body camera footage, police officers were observed gathering behind a riot shield before advancing toward Shanahan, who was now lying motionless on the ground.
—The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2024
The purpose of the new rule is twofold, officials said: first, to pull legitimate sellers into the regulatory sunlight and, second, to deprive brokers who knowingly traffic in criminal gun sales of a legal shield provided by the vagaries of federal firearms laws.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Apr. 2024
Our tester appreciated the snug fit that kept breast shields and bottles in place, but recommended checking the size guide before buying one for yourself.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
Zelensky has said Ukraine needs 26 to create a total air shield over Ukraine, but Kuleba is initially focused on obtaining seven as quickly as possible.
—Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
High above Antarctica, a massive hole had opened in the ozone shield that protects life on earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
At least that was the shield when he was criticized.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Fortunately, there's a robust solution to help minimize such interruptions to your computing time: AdGuard.
AdGuard is not only an ad-blocker but also a digital shield for users and their devices.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
With its long-sleeve design, this shirt offers year-round comfort while shielding you from the elements (without causing overheating).
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
The cost and complexity of ASML’s business has helped shield the company from competition.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
Ever protective of her children with Chris, Taya, now 49, shielded them from the public eye in the years after their father died.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
In their first encounter, Lee lectures Jessie about safety, handing her a bright yellow vest, then shields her during an explosion.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The loudest voices on the political spectrum make competing arguments: that Trump has been unfairly targeted because of his political views and that his status as a candidate has unjustly shielded him from a criminal reckoning.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
On a hilltop near the Gaza border is a daycare center, with a new concrete wall shielding it, and a soldier standing out front.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Though Alabama legislators later passed a law shielding patients and providers from any liability for destroying embryos, Harrolle was shaken, worried for those in the thick of IVF.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Former President Donald Trump's $175 million bond in his New York civil fraud case may not meet legal requirements for shielding his assets during his appeal, according New York Attorney General Letitia James.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shield.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shield
Cite this Entry
“Shield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shield. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shield
1 of 2 noun1
: a broad piece of armor carried on the arm to protect oneself in battle
2
: something that serves as a defense or protection
3
: the ancient mass of hard rock that forms the core of a continent
shield
2 of 2 verb
: to cover or screen with or as if with a shield
Medical Definition
shield
noun
: a structure, device, or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier
a lead shield to protect against X-rays
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