ENGLISH
REFERENCE

convoy

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈkɑnˌvɔɪ// UK //kˈɒnvɔɪ// con·voy

n. a group of vehicles or ships traveling together for safety or protection. You often see this when military trucks or aid workers move in a long line.

n. a group of vehicles, ships, or aircraft traveling together, typically accompanied by an armed escort for mutual protection. Often used in military, humanitarian, or maritime contexts.


SIMPLE

The food supplies arrived in a large truck convoy.

CONTEXTUAL

A naval convoy protected the merchant ships as they crossed the dangerous stretch of water.

COMPLEX

The humanitarian aid was delivered via a heavily guarded convoy to ensure the supplies reached the remote mountain villages without interference from local militias.

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French convoier, another form of conveier, from Vulgar Latin *convio (compare Medieval Latin convio (“to accompany on the way”)), from Latin con- (“together”) + via (“way”).

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' to specify the types of vehicles involved.

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