shield

1 of 2

noun

plural shields
1
: a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm
2
: something or someone that protects or defends : defense
A healthy lifestyle may act as a shield against preventable diseases.
3
a
: a device or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier
They were covered head to toe in protective gear—rubber boots, gowns, aprons, gloves, masks, head caps and plastic eye shields.Blaine Harden
see also dress shield, face shield, heat shield, windshield
b
: a protective structure (such as a carapace, scale, or plate) of some animals
4
: escutcheon
especially : one that is wide at the top and rounds to a point at the bottom
5
: the Precambrian nuclear mass of a continent that is surrounded and sometimes covered by sedimentary rocks
6
: something resembling a shield: such as
b
: a police officer's badge
c
: a decorative or identifying emblem

shield

2 of 2

verb

shielded; shielding; shields

transitive verb

1
a
: to protect with or as if with a shield : provide with a protective cover or shelter
b
: to cut off from observation : hide
2
obsolete : forbid
shielder noun
Choose the Right Synonym for shield

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack.

defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Examples of shield in a Sentence

Noun the heat shield on a space shuttle the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies Verb celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Some have fashioned makeshift shields from plastic lunch trays. David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024 For today’s pap shield, the actor opted for oversized sunglasses (in this case, square tortoiseshells with sepia lenses from Bottega Veneta) and a dark gray scarf draped over her head. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024 The team believes the volcano is a shield composed of layered lava, ice, and pyroclastic material. Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 Archimedes’ death ray is more commonly speculated to have been an array of several mirrors or polished shields. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Earlier this week, New York federal Judge Lewis Kaplan denied Trump's request for a shield from collection until three business days after Kaplan rules on an earlier Trump motion seeking a longer-term shield. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Mar. 2024 The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine in Meghan’s hometown of Los Angeles. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 Product Details: Attachments: Dough hook, whisk, flat beater, pouring shield | Wattage: 575 watts | Bowl Size: 7 quarts | Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.25 x 14.5 inches The 13 Best Refrigerators to Keep Your Food Fresh Best Mini Kitchenaid Artisan Mini Plus 3.5-Qt. Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024 If the company has a financial loss or causes nonfinancial harm, the liability pierces the corporate shield and falls on the shareholders. Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024
Verb
Investigators shielded the girls’ privacy by not naming them in public court filings, and instead assigned letters to them. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 This t-shirt from REI does just that with a three-panel hood equipped with an internal drawstring and long sleeves to shield from the heat. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the Senate cleared a separate bill in committee Tuesday that would shield shooters from civil liability if they are found to have acted in line with stand your ground. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Rowntree previously won a seat as a Labour representative in local government, for Norfolk County Council, before standing down in 2021, citing shielding responsibilities to his family during the pandemic. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2024 The government of President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power in Uganda since 1986, has long been accused of shielding corrupt but influential officials from criminal prosecution. Rodney Muhumuza, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Holden recently introduced a bill that would shield other establishments from the minimum wage law. Daniela Sirtori-Cortina, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 The Republican bill would shield from liability landowners not directly responsible for the presence of PFAS. Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 The fast action by both the House and Senate on bills to shield IVF came less than two weeks after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are people and that individuals could be liable for destroying them. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shield.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sheld, from Old English scield; akin to Old High German scilt shield and probably to Old English sciell shell

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shield was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shield

Cite this Entry

“Shield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shield. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shield

1 of 2 noun
1
: a broad piece of armor carried on the arm to protect oneself in battle
2
: something that serves as a defense or protection
3
: the ancient mass of hard rock that forms the core of a continent

shield

2 of 2 verb
: to cover or screen with or as if with a shield

Medical Definition

shield

noun
: a structure, device, or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier
a lead shield to protect against X-rays

More from Merriam-Webster on shield

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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