Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Covered with protective metal plates: Describes something, typically a vehicle or structure, that is protected by a covering of heavy, strong metal, especially steel, designed to resist damage from weapons or projectiles.

Usage

• The term "armor-clad" is used attributively, meaning it typically comes before the noun it modifies. It describes the physical state of being equipped with armor.
• It is most commonly applied to military vehicles, ships, or occasionally fortifications.
• Example: The convoy was led by an armor-clad transport truck.

Examples

• The armor-clad battleship sailed into the harbor, its steel plates gleaming in the sun.
• During the siege, the soldiers took refuge behind armor-clad walls.
• Modern armor-clad vehicles are designed to withstand improvised explosive devices.

Advanced Usage

• The hyphenated form "armor-clad" is standard when used as a compound adjective preceding a noun. When used predicatively (after a linking verb like 'was'), it is sometimes written as two words: "The vehicle was armor clad."
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something that is very well protected or resistant to criticism or attack.
  • Example: The CEO presented an armor-clad argument that the board could not refute.

Variants and Related Words

• Armor-plated (adj): A direct synonym, meaning covered with protective metal plates. Often used interchangeably with "armor-clad."
  • Example: The bank's vault was armor-plated.
• Clad (verb/past participle): The base word meaning covered or sheathed. It is often combined with other materials (e.g., , ).
• Armored (adj): A more common and general synonym meaning equipped with armor. It can describe vehicles, personnel, or even units.
  • Example: an armored car division.

Synonyms

• Armored: Protected by armor.
• Ironclad: Historically meaning clad in iron; now often used figuratively to mean unbreakable (e.g., an ).
• Plated: Covered with a layer of metal.

Antonyms

• Unarmored: Lacking protective armor.
• Vulnerable: Susceptible to physical damage or attack.
• Exposed: Not protected or covered.

Notes

• The spelling "armour-clad" is the British English variant.
• While "armor-clad" specifically emphasizes the state of being covered () in armor, the term "armor-plated" emphasizes the method of applying plates of armor. In practical usage, the distinction is minimal.

Adjective

1. covered with heavy steel
   • armor-plated vehicles