armour plate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Military / Historical
Quick answer
What does “armour plate” mean?
A thick, hard plate of steel or other strong material, used to protect military vehicles, ships, or personnel from projectiles and explosions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick, hard plate of steel or other strong material, used to protect military vehicles, ships, or personnel from projectiles and explosions.
Any exceptionally strong, protective layer or covering, used metaphorically to describe resilience or defence in non-physical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'armour plate' (UK) vs. 'armor plate' (US). The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of military strength, protection, and historical or industrial manufacturing.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language for both, but standard within relevant technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “armour plate” in a Sentence
The [tank/hull] was constructed from [adjective] armour plate.They reinforced the vehicle with armour plate.The projectile failed to penetrate the armour plate.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “armour plate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The shipbuilders will armour-plate the hull against torpedoes.
- The vehicle was armour-plated for the mission.
American English
- The factory will armor-plate the new personnel carriers.
- The design called for an armor-plated cabin.
adjective
British English
- The armour-plate door weighed several tonnes.
- They studied armour-plate metallurgy.
American English
- The armor-plate section withstood the blast.
- Armor-plate technology advanced rapidly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in contracts: 'armour-plated guarantees' (extremely strong).
Academic
Used in historical, engineering, or military studies texts.
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in documentaries or historical fiction discussions.
Technical
Standard in military engineering, vehicle design, and historical armour description.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “armour plate”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “armour plate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “armour plate”
- Misspelling as 'armor plate' in UK contexts or 'armour plate' in US technical writing.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to armour plate the vehicle' is less standard than 'to armour the vehicle' or 'to fit with armour plate').
- Confusing it with 'armour plating' (the process or the collective covering).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun, typically written as two separate words, though hyphenated forms (armour-plate) are common when used as a modifier (e.g., armour-plate thickness).
'Armour plate' usually refers to a single, distinct sheet or piece of protective material. 'Armour plating' refers to the collective covering made of such plates or the process of applying it.
Yes, historically for knights' plate armour and in modern times for hard ballistic plates inserted into tactical vests. However, for a full suit of historical armour, 'plate armour' is a more common term.
Very rarely. Metaphorical use exists (e.g., 'armour-plated confidence') but is stylistic. Its primary use remains in military, historical, and engineering domains.
A thick, hard plate of steel or other strong material, used to protect military vehicles, ships, or personnel from projectiles and explosions.
Armour plate is usually technical / military / historical in register.
Armour plate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑː.mə ˌpleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːr.mɚ ˌpleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] He has an armour-plated confidence (extremely resilient).”
- “[Metaphorical] The contract was armour-plated against legal challenges.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a medieval KNIGHT. His ARMOUR is made of metal PLATES. ARMOUR + PLATE = the plate that makes up armour.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A HARD SURFACE / RESILIENCE IS ARMOUR.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'armour plate' LEAST likely to be used?