Armored

Armored is an adjective meaning protected by armor or a protective covering. It is used to describe equipment, vehicles, or structures designed to resist damage from weapons or other projectiles. In British English, the spelling armoured is common; both forms are used in the same sense depending on regional orthography.

Personal protective equipment for individuals includes ballistic vests and helmets. Modern armor uses multiple materials to stop or slow projectiles, including steel plates, ceramic composites, and ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Armor is typically rated by standardized tests that simulate specific threats; soft armor protects the torso, while hard armor plates protect against higher-velocity rounds. Some systems employ reactive armor or energy-absorbing layers to reduce penetration and blunt trauma.

Vehicles, ships, and aircraft may be armored with protective plating to improve survivability. Armored fighting vehicles such as tanks and armored personnel carriers use thick metal or composite plating, sometimes with sloping surfaces to deflect projectiles. Additional technologies include explosive reactive armor and active protection systems that detect and intercept incoming threats before impact.

Armored can also describe natural or artificial coverings that provide protection, such as armoured animals with shells or protective integuments, or objects like armored doors and safes. The term emphasizes resilience and defense across contexts, from individual gear to large-scale military platforms.