Armada

[ ahr-mah-duh, -mey- ]

/ ɑrˈmɑ də, -ˈmeɪ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR Armada ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Also called Invincible Armada, Spanish Armada. the fleet sent against England by Philip II of Spain in 1588. It was defeated by the English navy and later dispersed and wrecked by storms.

(lowercase) any fleet of warships.

(lowercase) a large group or force of vehicles, airplanes, etc.: an armada of transport trucks.

RELATED WORDS

flotilla, squadron, fleet, navy, force

Origin of Armada

1525–35; < Spanish < Latin armāta armed forces, neuter plural of armātus (past participle of armāre to equip with arms). See arm², -ate¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for armada

Even so, the dozen U.S. warships on station were the biggest contingent in this armada.
America’s Secret Libya War|John Barry|August 30, 2011|DAILY BEAST
An armada of sand crabs hefting a landlocked ship on their backs.
Hollywood's Nonsensical, Multibillion-Dollar Franchise|Chris Lee|May 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
A spice boutique and cooking school now complete the "Maisons de Bricourt" armada.
A Superstar Chef Does the Unthinkable|Amelia Smith|November 17, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Happily there was no occasion for their services, the Armada being destroyed by a storm at sea.
A Comprehensive History of Norwich|A. D. Bayne

To read the story of the Armada one would believe that the English destroyed this dangerous Spanish fleet.
New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915|Various
The first mishap occurred when the Armada was rounding the north of Scotland.
Famous Sea Fights|John Richard Hale
He sat again for Liverpool in the year of the Armada , and his name begins to appear in the proceedings.
Bacon|Richard William Church
After this event, and after the aforesaid battles and victories, our armada retired to the port of Cavite for necessary repairs.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXXV, 1640-1649|Various

British Dictionary definitions for armada (1 of 2)

armada

/ (ɑːˈmɑːdə) /

noun

a large number of ships or aircraft

Word Origin for armada

C16: from Spanish, from Medieval Latin armāta fleet, armed forces, from Latin armāre to provide with arms

British Dictionary definitions for armada (2 of 2)

Armada

/ (ɑːˈmɑːdə) /

noun

the Armada See Spanish Armada

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for armada

armada

"fleet of warships," 1530s (erroneously, as armado), from Spanish armada "an armed force," from Medieval Latin armata (see army). Especially of the "Invincible Armada" of Philip II of Spain (1588). Current form of the word is from 1590s.