noun
Uncommon
convoy
KON-voy
Convoy (noun) means a group of vehicles or ships travelling together, often with an armed escort for protection. Example: “A convoy of army trucks moved slowly through the town.”
noun
1
A group of vehicles or ships travelling together, often with an armed escort for protection.
"A convoy of army trucks moved slowly through the town."
"The aid convoy was delayed at the border for hours."
"The lorries set off in a long convoy escorted by police vehicles."
verb
1
To travel together as a group, or to escort a group for protection.
"Naval ships convoyed the merchant fleet across the Atlantic."
"The coastguard boats convoyed the fishing fleet safely back into harbour."
"We decided to convoy through the mountains rather than drive alone."
How to use convoy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group travelling together, usually vehicles or ships, often for safety.
Common pairings
military convoy
convoy of trucks
travel in convoy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like convoy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- convoys
- Third person singular
- convoys
- Past tense
- convoyed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of army trucks moved slowly through the town.
Etymology
From Old French convoier, ultimately from Latin via, "way" — the same root as "convey."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for convoy
See all rhymes for convoy →Frequently asked questions
What does “convoy” mean?
The word “convoy” means a group of vehicles or ships travelling together, often with an armed escort for protection. In plain terms, a group travelling together, usually vehicles or ships, often for safety.
How do you pronounce “convoy”?
“Convoy” is pronounced KON-voy (/ˈkɒn.vɔɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “convoy” in a sentence?
Here is “convoy” used in a sentence: “A convoy of army trucks moved slowly through the town.”
What part of speech is “convoy”?
Depending on how it is used, “convoy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “convoy” come from?
The word “convoy” comes from Latin. From Old French convoier, ultimately from Latin via, "way" — the same root as "convey.".
Is “convoy” a common word?
“Convoy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “convoy” have?
“Convoy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of vehicles or ships travelling together, often with an armed escort for protection.
What is the difference between a convoy and a caravan?
A convoy typically refers to a group of vehicles or ships traveling together, often with an armed escort for protection, and is commonly used in military or logistical contexts. A caravan usually describes a group of vehicles or travelers moving together for company or safety, without necessarily implying armed protection.
Is convoy only used for military vehicles?
No, convoy is used for any group of vehicles or ships traveling together for safety or coordination, including humanitarian aid convoys, trucking convoys, and shipping convoys, in addition to military ones. The defining feature is the group traveling together, often with some form of escort or protection.
Can convoy be used as a verb?
Yes, as a verb convoy means to travel together as a group, or to escort a group of vehicles or ships for protection, as in warships convoyed the merchant fleet across the ocean.
