ordnance

noun

ord·​nance ˈȯrd-nən(t)s 

1

a

: military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and maintenance tools and equipment

… bombers dropped heavy concentrations of ordnance on every targeted airfield …

—Ron Dick

b

: a service of the army charged with the procuring, distributing, and safekeeping of ordnance

2

: cannon, artillery

Several pieces of ordnance bombarded the entrenched enemy.

Synonyms of ordnance

• guns
• weapons

Examples of ordnance in a Sentence

The company was outfitted with 50-millimeter ordnance.

the army is waiting for the heavy ordnance to be brought in

Recent Examples on the Web

The expense in dollars and depleted military ordnance is enormous, and the physical and human destruction in Iran is huge. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026

Across the river, unexploded ordnance warning signs hint at the area’s military past. —Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2026

Plot to rob a military ammunition plant Officials said the group discussed a backup plan to steal military ordnance after determining that its members lacked the expertise needed to manufacture homemade explosives. —Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026

The vehicle was designed to address key requirements of ground forces, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams, special operations units, and SWAT operators. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ordinaunce, from Anglo-French ordenance disposition, preparation, military provisions — more at ordinance

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

ordnance

noun

ord·​nance ˈȯrd-nən(t)s 

1

: military supplies

also : the branch of the army that obtains and gives out military supplies

2

: artillery sense 1