armored car: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Journalistic, Military, Law Enforcement
Quick answer
What does “armored car” mean?
A vehicle with protective metal plating, used to transport valuable items or important people under threat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A vehicle with protective metal plating, used to transport valuable items or important people under threat.
A vehicle fitted with defensive armor, typically for transporting cash, bullion, or dignitaries, or a military light combat vehicle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English uses the spelling 'armoured car'. The term is equally applicable to cash-in-transit vehicles, but in military contexts, the UK more frequently uses 'armoured car' for historical light cavalry vehicles, whereas the US may use 'armored security vehicle' or 'armored reconnaissance vehicle' more specifically.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary connotation is security and protection. In civilian contexts, it strongly associates with banks, cash transport, and heists. In military contexts, it suggests light, wheeled combat vehicles as opposed to main battle tanks.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media due to higher prevalence of private security firms and bank-operated cash transport services often referenced in news reports.
Grammar
How to Use “armored car” in a Sentence
The [SECURITY FIRM] dispatched an armored car.They transported the [VALUABLES] in an armored car.The convoy included two armored cars.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “armored car” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- An armoured-car robbery
- The armoured-car division
American English
- An armored-car heist
- Armored-car security protocols
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The bank contracts a service for daily armored car pickups from its branches.
Academic
The paper analyzes the tactical evolution of the light armored car in 20th-century warfare.
Everyday
We had to wait while the armored car finished loading at the ATM.
Technical
The V-hull design of the modern armored car deflects blast forces from IEDs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “armored car”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “armored car”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “armored car”
- Using 'tank' incorrectly for a wheeled armored car. Confusing 'armored car' (often wheeled, for transport/recon) with 'armored personnel carrier' (tracked, for troop transport).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An armored car is typically a wheeled vehicle used for security transport or light military roles. A tank is a tracked, heavily armed and armored main battle vehicle designed for front-line combat.
Often, yes, especially for larger box-shaped cash transport vehicles. 'Armored car' can be slightly more general, encompassing both car-like and truck-like vehicles. Context dictates the best term.
UK English uses 'armoured car', while US English uses 'armored car'. The pronunciation also differs slightly, with the US rhotic 'r' being pronounced in 'armored'.
Modern armored cars designed for cash transport are typically bullet-resistant to a certain caliber (e.g., up to 7.62mm rifle rounds) and may also have protection against explosives. The level of armor depends on the threat assessment and design.
A vehicle with protective metal plating, used to transport valuable items or important people under threat.
Armored car is usually formal, journalistic, military, law enforcement in register.
Armored car: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑːməd kɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːrmərd kɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like robbing an armored car (a near-impossible, highly risky task)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ARMORed CAR: Think of a CAR wearing a suit of ARMOR.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A CONTAINER (The armored car is a sealed, impenetrable container for valuables.)
Practice
Quiz
In a civilian context, what is the primary function of an armored car?