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.

---

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

---

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

Bulgaria is an important supplier of ammunition and explosives to Ukraine, through third countries, especially neighbouring Romania.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

According to the draft legislation, an additional 8.5 billion euros will be allocated to boost stockpiles of ammunition between now and 2030, bringing the total to 26 billion euros.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 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 group’s results were also driven by the integration of U.S. ammunition manufacturer the Kinetic Group, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

As if Peter didn’t have enough ammunition already.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

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