English Reference
noun · verb

armor

n. · v.
US /ˈɑɹmɝ/ ar·mor UK spelling armors, Armour

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    n.special clothing, often made of metal, that soldiers wore in the past to protect their bodies in battle.

    n.protective covering for the body, historically made of metal plates or chainmail, worn to prevent injury during combat.

    Simple

    The museum has a famous collection of steel armor worn by knights in the Middle Ages.

    In context

    The knight's armor was so heavy that he required assistance from his squire just to mount his horse before the tournament began.

    protectionmailsuit of armor
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate American English Military

    n.strong metal plates used to protect tanks, ships, or planes from explosions and bullets.

    n.reinforced plating applied to military vehicles, naval vessels, or aircraft to diffuse the force of projectiles or explosives.

    Simple

    The tank's thick armor protected the crew from the blast.

    In context

    Modern military engineers are developing composite armor that provides superior protection against anti-tank missiles while remaining relatively lightweight.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced American EnglishTechnical Military

    n.a group of tanks and other heavy vehicles in an army.

    n.a military branch or formation consisting primarily of tanks and other armored fighting vehicles.

    Simple

    The general ordered the armor to move forward across the open field.

    In context

    The division's armor was deployed to the border as a deterrent, signaling a significant escalation in the regional conflict.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate American English Science

    n.the hard natural shell or skin on some animals, like turtles or armadillos.

    n.a tough, protective outer layer or shell occurring naturally on certain animals or plants.

    Simple

    An armadillo has a tough layer of armor to protect it from predators.

    In context

    The evolutionary development of bony armor in certain fish species provided a significant survival advantage against larger aquatic predators.

    shellcarapacescales
  5. 05 C1 Advanced American EnglishFormal

    v.to cover something with a protective layer to keep it safe.

    v.to equip a person, vehicle, or object with protective plating or a hardened coating.

    Simple

    The company decided to armor their delivery trucks after several robberies.

    In context

    Engineers were tasked to armor the cockpit of the transport plane without exceeding the maximum takeoff weight.

Palmer gives you nothing to bite on, no gaps in the armour.

The Guardian· 28 Aug 2026

From Middle English armure, armour, armor, armeure, borrowed from Anglo-Norman armure and Old French armeüre, from Latin armātūra. Doublet of armature and armure. By surface analysis, arm (“to cover or furnish”) + -or (suffix forming agent nouns or nouns of quality, state, or condition).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin armātūra
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated