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

Still others sheltered in mountain resorts or lined up rides on private planes to get out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Among the items destined for the scrap heap is the gantry, which once sheltered Soyuz rockets from the tropical weather.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

This weather setup has driven persistent south-easterly winds driving moisture - and rainfall - into areas like southern England and eastern Scotland, leaving some spots further west sheltered from the worst of the wet weather.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

They can’t be so sheltered that they don’t hear the outrage from people who look just like their biggest fans.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

Even in sheltered areas, under an umbrella of conifers, the snow was nearly knee deep and tedious to churn through.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• protected
• shady