convoy

[ verb kon-voi, kuhn-voi; noun kon-voi ]

verb (used with object)

1. to accompany or escort, usually for protection:

   A destroyer convoyed the merchant ship.

noun

1. the act of convoying.
2. the protection provided by an escort.
3. a ship, fleet, group of vehicles, etc., accompanied by a protecting escort.
4. an armed force, warship, etc., that escorts, especially for protection.
5. any group of military vehicles traveling together under the same orders.
6. Citizens Band Radio Slang. two or more CB-equipped vehicles traveling together.

convoy

/ ˈkɒnvɔɪ /

noun

1. a group of merchant ships with an escort of warships
2. a group of land vehicles assembled to travel together
3. the act of travelling or escorting by convoy (esp in the phrase in convoy )

verb

1. tr to escort while in transit

Other Words From

• un·convoyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convoy¹

1325–75; Middle English convoyen < Middle French convoier, Anglo-French conveier to convey

Word History and Origins

Origin of convoy¹

C14: from Old French convoier to convey

Synonym Study

See accompany.

Example Sentences

If shots are transported during a blizzard, the vaccine convoy could follow 30 minutes behind a salt truck.

From Washington Post

A love story set against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, the film opens with an Irish Republican Army ambush of a police convoy carrying two of their captured members, and was released in America as River of Unrest.

From Ozy

We’re social animals, and serving the greatest number in your social convoy guarantees your continued existence.

From Ozy

His strolling is interrupted when he receives a call from Peter Parker asking him to help supervise a prison convoy.

From Washington Post

Suspects’ identities remain unclear in deadly convoy attack.

From Fortune

At the head of this five-mile convoy was Ivan Smith, a 22-year-old Rhodesian.

From The Daily Beast

As soon as the convoy left, Jimbo came out of the double doors.

From The Daily Beast

But one convoy alone, according to Lysenko, consisted of 32 tanks, 16 D-30 howitzers and 30 KamAZ heavy trucks.

From The Daily Beast

The convoy included more than 40 tankers and trucks--19 of those were each towing a 122mm howitzer.

From The Daily Beast

On Tuesday, the group witnessed a convoy of 43 unmarked green military trucks with tarpaulin covers moving towards Donetsk.

From The Daily Beast

It was risky work to leave the valuable convoy for an instant, but Malcolm felt that he must probe this mystery.

From Project Gutenberg

You must proceed, with your convoy and escort, till you regain the high-road, then take the first quarters you can find.

From Project Gutenberg

At the same time the Napoleon, with a convoy of steamers and transports, rose well into sight on our starboard quarter.

From Project Gutenberg

Gingham merely knew that a convoy was going up; and intended to go in company, for the sake of the guard.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr Chesterfield now pushed forward with a party by the lane towards the 410 ford, the convoy and the rest of the escort following.

From Project Gutenberg