Meaning & use
armoured
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Protected by metal or another strong material, especially used for military vehicles or clothing.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: 'armoured vehicle', 'armoured division'. It can also follow a linking verb: 'The car is armoured.'
Patterns
- armoured vehicle
- armoured car
- armoured personnel carrier
- armoured with something
The soldiers traveled in an armoured vehicle through the dangerous area.
The bank uses an armoured truck to move large amounts of cash.
Their armoured division was sent to the front line.
adjectivebefore a nounbiology
Covered or protected with a hard outer layer, as some animals and plants are.
Grammar: Used before a noun to describe animals or plants with a hard covering: 'armoured fish', 'armoured scales'.
Patterns
- armoured animal
- armoured fish
- armoured body
The armoured fish has thick scales that protect it from predators.
Some armoured insects have a hard shell called an exoskeleton.
The armoured body of the turtle is its main defense.
Common combinations
- armoured car
- The president's armoured car can withstand bullets.
- armoured personnel carrier
- The troops moved in an armoured personnel carrier.
- armoured division
- The armoured division was equipped with tanks.
- lightly armoured
- The vehicle is lightly armoured, so it is fast but not very safe.
Synonyms and how they differ
- protected
- A general word meaning kept safe from harm; 'armoured' specifically means protected by a hard metal or shell covering.
- bulletproof
- Means able to stop bullets; 'armoured' can mean protected against many kinds of attack, not just bullets.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: armoured or amoured?
armoured vs amoured
'Amoured' is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is 'armoured' (British) or 'armored' (American), with an 'r' after the 'a'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'armoured' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Armoured' is an adjective meaning protected by metal, so it fits before 'car'. 'Armoured by' is not a normal pattern, and the other options use 'armoured' as a verb or in unrelated contexts, which is not correct.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “armoured”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.