armed

¹ American  

[ahrmd] / ɑrmd /

adjective

1. having a specified number or kind of arms (often used in combination): a weak-armed quarterback.

   a four-armed Hindu god;

   a weak-armed quarterback.

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armed ² American  

[ahrmd] / ɑrmd /

adjective

1. bearing firearms; having weapons.

   a heavily armed patrol.

2. maintained by arms.

   armed peace.

3. involving the use of weapons.

   armed conflict.

4. equipped.

   The students came armed with their pocket calculators.

5. (especially of an animal) covered protectively, as by a shell.

6. fortified; made secure.

   Armed by an inveterate optimism, he withstood despair.

7. (of an artillery shell, bomb, missile, etc.) having the fuze made operative.

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armed ¹ British  

/ ɑːmd /

adjective

1. equipped with or supported by arms, armour, etc

2. prepared for conflict or any difficulty

3. (of an explosive device) prepared for use; having a fuse or detonator installed

4. (of plants) having the protection of thorns, spines, etc

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armed ² British  

/ ɑːmd /

adjective

1. 1. having an arm or arms

   2. ( in combination )

      long-armed

      one-armed

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• well-armed
  adjective
• half-armed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of armed¹

First recorded in 1500–10; arm ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ³ ( def. )

Origin of armed²

First recorded in 1250–1300; arm ², + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

If you're armed, you are carrying some kind of weapon. Armed soldiers are most commonly supplied with guns. In the United States, police officers are almost always armed, while British police usually don't carry guns. When a crime involves the use of a weapon, it might be described as an armed robbery, and even an animal is sometimes said to be armed: "The cat was armed with sharp teeth and claws against the puppy's enthusiasm." The Latin root is arma, "weapons," or "tools of war."

Example Sentences

In that environment, the helmets may have been intended for local militias, forces serving the Kingdom of Valencia, or armed groups responsible for defending the region's maritime frontier.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

Toño, who now drives with plain-clothed armed police on board for his protection, wants whoever the next president is to have a "strong hand against crime".

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

But the shift has also raised concerns among some religious liberty advocates and observers who argue that the consolidation may obscure the diversity of belief systems within the armed forces.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

The IOM said armed attacks were no longer confined to regular hotspots and were now increasingly affecting areas that had previously served as places of refuge, leaving vulnerable people with few safe options.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Once again, Europe was armed to the teeth.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• equipped
• loaded
• outfitted
• supplied