sheltered

American  

[shel-terd] / ˈʃɛl tərd /

adjective

1. protected or shielded from storms, missiles, etc., by a wall, roof, barrier, or the like.

2. protected from the troubles, annoyances, sordidness, etc., encountered in competitive situations.

   a sheltered life.

3. (of a business or industry) enjoying noncompetitive conditions, as because of a protective tariff.

4. of or relating to employment or housing, especially for persons with disabilities, in a noncompetitive, supervised environment.

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sheltered British  

/ ˈʃɛltəd /

adjective

1. protected from wind or weather

   a sheltered garden

2. protected from outside influences

   a sheltered upbringing

3. (of buildings) specially designed to provide a safe environment for the elderly, handicapped, or disabled See also sheltered housing

   sheltered workshops for the blind

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Other Word Forms

• self-sheltered
  adjective
• unsheltered
  adjective
• well-sheltered
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sheltered

First recorded in 1585–95; shelter + -ed ²

Example Sentences

It found that 52% were “rough sleepers,” 38% sheltered in vehicles and only 9% had tents.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Manufacturing giant China has been comparatively sheltered from fuel shortages thanks to oil reserves and renewable energy, but local factories are picking up a ballooning raw materials bill.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

But, as she told Ritz, when she joined Jimmy Jam and Lewis in Minneapolis, she was coming out of a very sheltered life.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

They took me to see how the place had been reordered: the fragile mud houses that had sheltered our ancestors for centuries were gone, replaced by sturdy brick homes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

I blink and look away from the house, down at my hands, my jeans, my book bag on the floor—anything to not look so sheltered.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• protected
• shady