noun
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the art and science of the efficient design and use of ordnance, esp artillery
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guns collectively
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the use and firing of guns
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(modifier) of, relating to, or concerned with heavy guns, as in warfare
a gunnery officer
Etymology
Origin of gunnery
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Matt served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantry squad leader and gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
It relied on Dreyer’s ostensibly disinterested advice, which was backed by powerful superior officers with whom he had ingratiated himself, even though a majority of expert gunnery officers unequivocally opposed it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
It included a live-fire gunnery exercise conducted by the guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna.
From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026
McDonald was an active-duty gunnery sergeant stationed with the Marine Corps Logistic Operations Group in Twentynine Palms, according to the district attorney’s office.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2024
Unbelievably, the Mary Rose’s gunnery crew had failed to obey an order to close the gunports after the ship had begun to list.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.