What does antiarmor mean?
Antiarmor is a military adjective describing weapons, munitions, vehicles, or tactics specifically designed to attack or defeat armored targets, most notably tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. It appears almost exclusively in technical, journalistic, and doctrinal contexts — for example, an antiarmor missile, an antiarmor rifle, or an antiarmor team within an infantry unit. The word is formed by combining the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' (meaning 'against' or 'opposed to') with 'armor', itself rooted in the Latin 'arma', meaning tools or instruments of war. Because it functions as a compound modifier rather than an independent concept, antiarmor carries no emotional connotation beyond its strictly martial context: it signals purpose-built capability against heavy protection. Related terms include antitank, which overlaps closely in meaning but refers more narrowly to tanks, and armor-piercing, which emphasizes penetration mechanics. The word is useful shorthand in discussions of modern warfare, where the balance between armor and the weapons designed to defeat it remains a central strategic concern.
Designed or employed to defeat, penetrate, or destroy armored vehicles, especially tanks.
"The army fielded a new antiarmor system capable of stopping heavily plated main battle tanks."
Typically used attributively before a noun naming the weapon, munition, or unit.
A weapon or munition designed to defeat armored vehicles.
"Each squad was issued an antiarmor for use against light armored vehicles."
Less common than the adjectival use; usually found in military inventory or procurement contexts.
Rare; the plural applies only when antiarmor is used as a countable noun denoting individual weapons or systems.
"The division stockpiled dozens of antiarmors ahead of the offensive."
The prefix 'anti-' comes straight from ancient Greek — so every time a soldier fires an antiarmor missile at a tank, a piece of classical Greek vocabulary is doing the fighting.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antiarmor
Antiarmor is a twentieth-century compound formed from two older roots. The prefix 'anti-' derives directly from ancient Greek 'anti', meaning 'against' or 'in place of', and has long been used in English to form words expressing opposition, as in antiseptic and antifreeze. 'Armor' entered Middle English from Old French 'armure', ultimately tracing back to the Latin 'armatura', derived from 'arma', meaning weapons or implements of war. The compound arose once armored fighting vehicles became a defining feature of modern combat, giving soldiers and strategists a concise way to label anything built to counter them.
How antiarmor is actually used
Almost always used attributively in military and technical writing; it is a compound modifier rather than a standalone descriptive term. Common in defense journalism, military doctrine, and arms-trade reporting. The spelling is typically unhyphenated in American usage.
Easily confused with antiarmor
Antiaircraft describes weapons designed against aircraft, whereas antiarmor describes weapons designed against armored ground vehicles like tanks.