1
a
: furnished with weapons
an armed guard
also
: using or involving a weapon
b
: furnished with something that provides security, strength, or efficacy
armed with knowledge
2
: marked by the maintenance of armed forces in readiness
: having an arm or arms especially of a specified kind or number
—usually used in combination
long-armed
two-armed
Examples of armed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
They were killed after being apprehended by the Municipal Security Patrol and armed citizens, police said.
—Mark Osborne, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2024
Content by this author: How to Get Colombia’s Peace Process Back on Track
Bogotá must pursue dialogue with armed groups—and scale up security for civilians.
—Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Ward, the retired detective, pulled a gun and struggled with one of the armed robbers.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for armed 
Adjective
The following night in Chinle, while conducting a security check during the Chinle High School homecoming dance, a Navajo Police Department officer received a report of a possible armed student at the event.
—Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
They were killed after being apprehended by the Municipal Security Patrol and armed citizens, police said.
—Mark Osborne, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2024
Content by this author: How to Get Colombia’s Peace Process Back on Track
Bogotá must pursue dialogue with armed groups—and scale up security for civilians.
—Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Ward, the retired detective, pulled a gun and struggled with one of the armed robbers.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for armed
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'armed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near armed
Cite this Entry
“Armed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armed. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
armed
adjective1
: having an arm or arms especially of a specified kind or number
—usually used in combination
long-armed
two-armed
2
: having a spiny rostellum
a tapeworm armed with numerous hammer-shaped hooks
Legal Definition
armed
adjective1
: having a weapon
an armed assailant
2
: involving the use of a weapon
an armed attack
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