Word
protected
Phoneticspro·tect·ed, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹəˈtɛktɪd/
UK/pɹətˈɛktɪd/
Definitions
01safe from harm
B1 · Intermediate
adj. kept safe from danger, damage, or attack.
adj. shielded from injury, damage, or external interference.
“The rare birds live in a protected area where hunting is not allowed.”
“The historic district is a protected zone, meaning developers cannot alter the facades of the buildings without government approval.”
Usage
Often used before a noun to describe legal or environmental status.
Antonyms
02programming access
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. a setting in computer code that lets only certain related parts of the program see or use a piece of data.
adj. an access modifier in object-oriented programming that restricts visibility to the containing class and its subclasses.
“I changed the variable to protected so that the child classes could still use it.”
“By declaring the method as protected, the developer ensured that it remained inaccessible to external packages while allowing for inheritance.”
Usage
Used as a keyword in languages like Java, C++, and C#.
03past action of guarding
B1 · Intermediate
v. the past tense of protect; to have kept someone or something safe.
v. the past tense and past participle form of the transitive verb 'protect'.
“The umbrella protected us from the heavy rain while we walked home.”
“The treaty protected the smaller nation from economic sanctions for over a decade before it was eventually renegotiated.”
Usage
Follows the standard rules for regular past tense verbs.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “protected” in context.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/protected