noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌkɑː.diː.əˈfɪ.læks/conservative Received Pronunciation
Canada, General-American:/ˌkɑɹ.di.əˈfɪ.læks/
Canada, General-American:/-oʊ̯ˈfɪ.lɑks/
Canada:/-oʊ̯ˈfɪ.lɒks/
Australian:/ˌkɐː.diː.əˈfɪ.læks/
Australian:/-əʉ̯ˈfɪ.lɐːks/
New-Zealand:/ˌkɐː.diː.əˈfə.lɛks/
New-Zealand:/-ɐʉ̯ˈfə.lɐːks/
Scotland:/ˌkaɹ.di.əˈfɪ.laks/
Scotland:/-oˈfɪ.laks/
India:/ˌkaːr.ɖiː.oˈfɪ.laks/
India:/-oːˈfɪ.laːks/
rhymes with -ɪlæks
rhymes with -ɪlaks
rhymes with -ɪlɑks
1
noun
Meaning 1
A piece of body armour—originally a metal breastplate or pair of plates—worn in classical antiquity to protect the region of the heart. Typically circular or square discs, fastened by leather straps, used in Italy from the Villanovan and Etruscan periods (7th century BCE) and later by Roman Republican legionaries and gladiators such as provocatores.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Near-synonym: pectorale
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pectorale
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin cardiophylax, derived from Ancient Greek καρδία (kardía) + φύλαξ (phúlax).