Bulletproof

/ˈbʊlɪtˌpruːf/

adjectiveBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Impervious to bullets; capable of withstanding gunfire.

/ˈbʊlɪtˌpruːf/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Resistant to bullets.

The car's bulletproof windows protected the passengers.

💡 Simply: Cannot be pierced by bullets.

More Examples

2

He wore a bulletproof vest under his shirt.

How It's Used

Military

"The soldiers wore bulletproof vests during the patrol."

Law Enforcement

"The police car was equipped with bulletproof windows."

2

Completely secure; immune to criticism or failure.

/ˈbʊlɪtˌpruːf/

adjectivepositiveIntermediate
Medical

Figuratively, extremely effective or resistant to failure.

Her alibi was bulletproof.

💡 Simply: Very strong and reliable.

More Examples

2

The software is designed to be bulletproof against viruses.

How It's Used

Business

"Their business plan seemed bulletproof."

Informal

"His argument was bulletproof; no one could refute it."

Tip:Like a bulletproof vest protects from harm, this protects from criticism.

From "bullet" + "proof", meaning resistant to bullets. The term emerged with the development of protective materials in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Initially used literally to describe materials protecting against bullets, its figurative use became more common in the 20th century.

Memory tip

Think of a bullet bouncing harmlessly off.

bullitproofbullet-proof

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written