ammunition

American  

[am-yuh-nish-uhn] / ˌæm yəˈnɪʃ ən /

noun

1. the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon, as bombs or rockets, and especially shot, shrapnel, bullets, or shells fired by guns.

2. the means of igniting or exploding such material, as primers, fuzes, and gunpowder.

3. any material, means, weapons, etc., used in any conflict.

   a crude ammunition of stones.

4. information, advice, or supplies to help defend or attack a viewpoint, argument, or claim.

   Give me some ammunition for the debate.

5. Obsolete. any military supplies.

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ammunition British  

/ ˌæmjʊˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. any projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, etc, that can be discharged from a weapon

2. bombs, missiles, chemicals, biological agents, nuclear materials, etc, capable of use as weapons

3. any means of defence or attack, as in an argument

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Etymology

Origin of ammunition

1620–30; < Middle French amonitions, amunitions (plural) military supplies ( a- a- ⁵ + munition < Latin; see munition), or < French la munition, wrongly analyzed as l'amunition

Explanation

Soldiers carry their ammunition: the bullets and shells needed for their guns. The word ammunition is used to describe the supply of shells or bullets used for a gun, as well as nuclear, chemical or biological matter that can be used in much larger weapons. But we also use it for metaphorical attack material. If you're trying to prove that your big brother is a jerk, your neighbor's story about how he kicked her dog is ammunition for your argument.

Example Sentences

It came in the wake of Lord Robertson's review in June, setting out plans for extra ammunition, next-generation fast jets, drones, and new attack submarines to upgrade Britain's war-fighting capabilities.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Meanwhile, the EIB is limited in what it can do by structural constraints: Its own policies prevent it from financing weapons and ammunition.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

However, M855 ammunition made for the U.S. military is packaged differently and cannot be possessed by or sold to the public.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

The company makes armored vehicles, defense electronics, ammunition and advanced defense systems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

All the soldiers assembled at the village square, dressed in their uniforms, carrying their weapons and ammunition in backpacks and waist belts.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Related Words

• ammo
• armament
• bomb
• bullet
• cartridge
• chemical
• explosive
• gunpowder
• materiel
• missile
• munition
• napalm
• rocket
• shrapnel
• torpedo