ammunition

noun

am·​mu·​ni·​tion ˌam-yə-ˈni-shən 

1

a

: the projectiles with their fuses, propelling charges, or primers fired from guns

b

: cartridges

c

: explosive military items (such as grenades or bombs)

2

: material for use in attacking or defending a position

ammunition for the defense lawyers

Synonyms

• aegis
• egis
• armor
• buckler
• cover
• defense
• guard
• protection
• safeguard
• screen
• security
• shield
• wall
• ward

Examples of ammunition in a Sentence

The troops were supplied with weapons and ammunition.

be certain that all of your accusations are true, lest you just give them ammunition to claim that all of them are false

Recent Examples on the Web

The lack of ammunition and Russian attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities means Kyiv has to do everything to hit the enemy, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity. —Daryna Krasnolutska, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024

Hernandez said a search of the storage locker yielded half a dozen assault rifle lower receivers, numerous assault rifle extended magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition and various assault rifle manufacturing tools. —Jason Green, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

Last month, Biden tapped the presidential authority power to get $10 million in weapons and ammunition into the hands of the Haiti National Police. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

Troops are beset by shortages in soldiers and ammunition, as well as doubts about the supply of Western aid. —Samya Kullab and Illia Novikov, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024

These Soviet-era systems will eventually become obsolete as Ukraine runs low on ammunition, making the country’s security situation even more dire. —Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

The Iranian officials said Tehran had not singled out a particular group for its largess, choosing instead to broadly inundate the territory with guns and ammunition. —Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024

The Ukrainian military says its forces are low on ammunition because of delays in foreign aid. —Claire Harbage, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024

After 13 minutes of the attack, the Arizona was bombed a fourth time — and this bomb went through the ship and ignited a million pounds of gunpowder and hundreds of thousands of pounds of ammunition. —Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete French amunition, from Middle French, alteration of munition

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

ammunition

noun

am·​mu·​ni·​tion ˌam-yə-ˈnish-ən 

1

a

: objects (as bullets) fired from guns

b

: explosive objects (as bombs) used in war

2

: material that may be used in attacking or defending a position

results of the study provided more ammunition