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Glite Dictionary
plot armor

plot armor

9.1
A story idea that keeps a character safe for no real reason
  • noun
  • /plɑt ˈɑrmər/
  • Jargon
translation icon : protección de trama
  • Without plot armor, the hero would never have made it past the first film.

Examples

  • The main character's plot armor was so strong that even a building collapse couldn't hurt him.

  • Many viewers complained that the villain survived only because of plot armor.

  • The hero survived the explosion thanks to his plot armor.

  • Many fans criticized the movie for its excessive plot armor.

  • In the action movie, the hero survives explosions and gunfire thanks to his plot armor.

  • The character's plot armor allowed him to escape impossible situations throughout the series.

  • Despite facing numerous deadly traps, the protagonist's plot armor kept him safe until the end.

Antonyms

vulnerability
156 5.1

A state of being easily harmed physically or emotionally

How Protected

invulnerable
22 7.7
plot armor
  • Jargon
9.1
protected
1 2.0
vulnerable
581 4.0
expendable
  • Offensive
1 7.1

Surface Forms

plot armor singular
plot armors plural

Morphology

plot + armor

The phrase literally combines 'plot' (storyline) with 'armor' (protection), so its sense — a character being protected by the needs of the story — is directly inferable from the constituents. It follows a regular noun+noun compounding/metaphor pattern in English, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to understand the meaning.

Etymology

Plot armor comes from imagining the plot of a story acting like armor that keeps a character safe. That's why it means a character is 'protected' by the story, not by real dangers.