sheltered

American  

[shel-terd] / ˈʃɛl tərd /

adjective

1. protected or shielded from storms, missiles, etc., by a wall, roof, barrier, or the like.

2. protected from the troubles, annoyances, sordidness, etc., encountered in competitive situations.

   a sheltered life.

3. (of a business or industry) enjoying noncompetitive conditions, as because of a protective tariff.

4. of or relating to employment or housing, especially for persons with disabilities, in a noncompetitive, supervised environment.

---

sheltered British  

/ ˈʃɛltəd /

adjective

1. protected from wind or weather

   a sheltered garden

2. protected from outside influences

   a sheltered upbringing

3. (of buildings) specially designed to provide a safe environment for the elderly, handicapped, or disabled See also sheltered housing

   sheltered workshops for the blind

---

Other Word Forms

• self-sheltered adjective
• unsheltered adjective
• well-sheltered adjective

Etymology

Origin of sheltered

First recorded in 1585–95; shelter + -ed ²

Example Sentences

But, as she told Ritz, when she joined Jimmy Jam and Lewis in Minneapolis, she was coming out of a very sheltered life.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

Elizabeth Uribe, who is friends with Gladdys, checked in on her parents throughout the day as they sheltered inside a hotel in Rincón de Guayabitos, a beach town not far from Puerto Vallarta.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

"To be honest, in the last days I'm losing hope a little bit," said Sigal as we sheltered in the safe room.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

My mother’s cluster were moralists: conservative, sheltered children of university-educated parents who believed in God, marriage and study.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Not homes, exactly—more like small shacks, such as those a couple of goats might be sheltered in.

From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata

Related Words

• protected
• shady