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

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

Kyiv’s soldiers on the front lines are in pressing need of ammunition to fend off Russia’s latest salvos. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024

Bald eagles currently face threats from lead ammunition that poisons food sources. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024

After being arrested and released in September 2021 on suspicion of possessing the loaded pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition, Ransom was arrested in August 2022. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024

Court records show that in at least one case, Thompson, who a federal judge would later sentence to just over five years in prison, offered to include incendiary ammunition as part of a sale to an informant. —Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2024

The men have filed plea agreements that involved them forfeiting their unregistered rifles, tactical gear, and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition. —Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 20 Mar. 2024

Both men pleaded guilty to the charges, and as part of their plea agreement, agreed to forfeit the rifles, night vision goggles, and other gear, including over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024

Inside, police found one million rounds of ammunition, more than 250 guns — including at least 60 assault rifles — as well as silencers and homemade explosives, authorities say. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 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