blindé

Blindé is a French adjective and past participle meaning protected by armor or reinforced against attack. The masculine form is blindé and the feminine blindée. In military, security, and civilian contexts, it is used to describe objects or structures that have protective armor, such as a véhicule blindé, un véhicule de combat blindé, une porte blindée, or du verre blindé. The term also extends to non-mobile protective features like blindage on armor plates or fortified walls (paroi blindée).

Etymology and usage: blindé derives from blindage, the armor plating that protects a vehicle or structure. It is the past participle form of a verb sense related to arming or reinforcing with armor. The word is widely found in technical manuals, military reports, and security literature.

Contexts and examples: In the defense sector, blindé refers to armored fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and other equipment designed to withstand ballistic or blast threats. In civilian security, it describes armor-reinforced installations and equipment, such as safes, vaults, and bulletproof glass (verre blindé). The adjective adapts with gender and number: un véhicule blindé, une voiture blindée, des murs blindés.

Slang usage: In contemporary French, blindé can also mean wealthy or financially secure. A person described as blindé is considered to have substantial resources or wealth, as in “il est blindé.”

See also: blindage, verre blindé, véhicule blindé.