shield
1 of 2noun
ˈshēld 
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 Blaine Harden 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
a
: apothecium
b
: a police officer's badge
c
: a decorative or identifying emblem
shield
2 of 2verb
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
Synonyms
Noun
- aegis
- egis
- ammunition
- armor
- buckler
- cover
- defense
- guard
- protection
- safeguard
- screen
- security
- wall
- ward
Verb
- bulwark
- cover
- defend
- fence
- fend
- forfend
- guard
- keep
- protect
- safeguard
- screen
- secure
- ward
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Hartford Courant, 13 Sep. 2022 Whereas chemical blockers absorb and disperse light, mineral formulas act as a physical shield. Allure Editors, Allure, 13 Sep. 2022 The handsome Alumni Lounge, with shield and scroll motifs, is considered the most intact historic interior on campus. oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2022 McCaughey grabbed a riot shield and used it as a weapon. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2022 Wyatt Russell is coming back as John Walker, the guy who was given Captain America's shield and started going by U.S. Agent in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a gig which did not go all that well for him. Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 11 Sep. 2022 For 30 years, Ruhl’s lab has been studying how mucins in saliva shield teeth from decay and help balance the many types of microbes that live in our mouths. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022 With the Queen goes the monarchy’s protective shield. Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 The two repairs set Dela Cruz back $1,375, including two $500 deductible payments and the cost to bolt a shield on to his converter. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Paul Hannon, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 The bill also seeks to help shield Massachusetts providers from out-of-state prosecution for procedures that are legal here, such as abortions and gender-affirming care. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 However, what the Watermark study illustrates is that customer experience differentiation can help shield an organization from the worst impacts of a contraction, as well as position it for success when conditions improve. Jon Picoult, Forbes, 7 June 2022 Three sisters approached the Utah Capitol on Sunday cloaked in red hooded robes and little white bonnets meant to help shield their faces. Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 May 2022 The former president has attempted to shield records from the FBI for months by claiming executive privilege. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 29 Aug. 2022 That firm most notably represented former President Donald Trump in his efforts to shield his financial records from congressional investigators and New York prosecutors. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022 Lawyers for the families criticized the move as another attempt by Mr. Jones to shield his wealth and evade judgment. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 Federal agencies sometimes invoke deliberative process privilege to shield records relating to rule-makings from Freedom of Information Request Act (FOIA) disclosures. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 27 July 2022 See More
Noun
McCaughey grabbed a riot shield and used it as a weapon. Hartford Courant, 13 Sep. 2022 Whereas chemical blockers absorb and disperse light, mineral formulas act as a physical shield. Allure Editors, Allure, 13 Sep. 2022 The handsome Alumni Lounge, with shield and scroll motifs, is considered the most intact historic interior on campus. oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2022 McCaughey grabbed a riot shield and used it as a weapon. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2022 Wyatt Russell is coming back as John Walker, the guy who was given Captain America's shield and started going by U.S. Agent in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a gig which did not go all that well for him. Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 11 Sep. 2022 For 30 years, Ruhl’s lab has been studying how mucins in saliva shield teeth from decay and help balance the many types of microbes that live in our mouths. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022 With the Queen goes the monarchy’s protective shield. Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 The two repairs set Dela Cruz back $1,375, including two $500 deductible payments and the cost to bolt a shield on to his converter. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
Germany’s government Sunday announced its third package of measures to help shield households from surging energy costs, bringing total help so far to €95 billion. Paul Hannon, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 The bill also seeks to help shield Massachusetts providers from out-of-state prosecution for procedures that are legal here, such as abortions and gender-affirming care. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 However, what the Watermark study illustrates is that customer experience differentiation can help shield an organization from the worst impacts of a contraction, as well as position it for success when conditions improve. Jon Picoult, Forbes, 7 June 2022 Three sisters approached the Utah Capitol on Sunday cloaked in red hooded robes and little white bonnets meant to help shield their faces. Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 May 2022 The former president has attempted to shield records from the FBI for months by claiming executive privilege. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 29 Aug. 2022 That firm most notably represented former President Donald Trump in his efforts to shield his financial records from congressional investigators and New York prosecutors. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022 Lawyers for the families criticized the move as another attempt by Mr. Jones to shield his wealth and evade judgment. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 Federal agencies sometimes invoke deliberative process privilege to shield records relating to rule-makings from Freedom of Information Request Act (FOIA) disclosures. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 27 July 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing shield
Kids Definition
shield 1 of 2
noun
ˈshēld
1
: a broad piece of armor carried (as by a soldier) for protection
2
: something that serves as a defense or protection
the heat shield on a space shuttle
shield
2 of 2verb
shielded; shielding
: to cover or screen (as from danger or harm) : provide with protection Shield your eyes from the glare.
Medical Definition
shield
noun
ˈshēld
: a structure, device, or part that serves as a protective cover or barrier
a lead shield to protect against X-rays
shield 1 of 2
noun
as in protection
means or method of defending the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- protection
- safeguard
- defense
- ammunition
- wall
- weapon
- armor
- buckler
- guard
- screen
- security
- aegis
- cover
- ward
- armament
- egis
- weaponry
- arm
- fortress
- munitions
- stronghold
- fort
- palisade
- fastness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- attack
- assault
- offense
- aggression
- offence
- offensive
shield
2 of 2verb
1
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public Synonyms & Similar Words
- protect
- defend
- safeguard
- guard
- bulwark
- fend
- fence
- secure
- screen
- ward
- prevent
- cover
- keep
- save
- forfend
- withstand
- preserve
- stand up for
- resist
- avert
- war
- oppose
- conserve
- wall
- buffer
- battle
- fight
- contend
- palisade
- picket
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- attack
- assault
- assail
- cave
- yield
- beset
- submit
- bombard
- storm
- overrun
- besiege
- capitulate
2
as in to cover
to place a protective layer over she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand Synonyms & Similar Words
- cover
- screen
- cloak
- mask
- cap
- veil
- crown
- canopy
- disguise
- clothe
- drape
- pall
- obscure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expose
- uncover
- bare
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of shield are defend, guard, protect, and safeguard. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.
shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
Although the words defend and shield have much in common, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.
defend the country
The words guard and shield can be used in similar contexts, but guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.
White House entrances are well guarded
The words protect and shield are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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
While the synonyms safeguard and shield are close in meaning, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.
our civil liberties must be safeguarded