body shield: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “body shield” mean?
A protective device worn on the body to defend against physical attack or impact.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A protective device worn on the body to defend against physical attack or impact.
A person or thing that protects someone from criticism, danger, or unwanted attention; a metaphorical barrier.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the compound noun identically.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK media for figurative political usage (e.g., 'human shield' scenarios). In US, strong association with law enforcement/military equipment.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation. Higher in news, security, and sports contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “body shield” in a Sentence
[Subject] uses/acts as a body shield for [Object][Subject] is protected by a body shieldVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “body shield” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The officer was body-shielded by his colleague.
- Protestors attempted to body-shield the speaker.
American English
- The agent body-shielded the principal from the crowd.
- They were trained to body-shield in a crisis.
adverb
British English
- He moved body-shield-like in front of her. (rare)
American English
- The team advanced body-shield-first. (rare)
adjective
British English
- The body-shield technology was impressive.
- A body-shield defence was mounted.
American English
- Body-shield tactics are standard procedure.
- The unit has body-shield protocols.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'The legal department acted as a body shield against the lawsuit.'
Academic
Rare in humanities. Used in security studies, materials science, or medieval history.
Everyday
Very rare. Understood primarily through news/media about protests or warfare.
Technical
Common in law enforcement, military, personal protective equipment (PPE), and historical reenactment contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “body shield”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “body shield”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “body shield”
- Using 'body shield' for emotional protection (use 'emotional shield'). Confusing with 'bulletproof vest' (which is worn, not held).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words (an open compound noun), though hyphenation (body-shield) may be seen in technical specifications or adjectival use.
A body shield is generally a rigid, handheld barrier designed to protect against impacts, projectiles, or thrown objects. A bulletproof vest is a flexible garment worn on the torso.
Yes, though it's less common and somewhat jargonistic. It means to protect someone by physically placing oneself or an object as a shield (e.g., 'He body-shielded the child from the debris').
It is often neutral or negative. It can imply cynical exploitation, as in 'using someone as a body shield,' suggesting the protector is being exposed to risk for another's benefit.
A protective device worn on the body to defend against physical attack or impact.
Body shield is usually formal/technical in register.
Body shield: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒdi ʃiːld/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdi ʃiːld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Use someone as a human body shield.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHIELD for your BODY. Combine the two words for the object.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A SHIELD; A PERSON IS A SHIELD.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, 'body shield' most closely means: