armament

noun

ar·​ma·​ment ˈär-mə-mənt 

 also  ˈärm-mənt

1

: a military or naval force

2

a

: the aggregate of a nation's military strength

b

: weapons, arms

3

: the process of preparing for war

Example Sentences

The country's armament will take years.

a small nation that is determined to have adequate armaments

Recent Examples on the Web

Many amulets, helmets and armaments given to the volunteer soldiers have elements of embroidery in them to protect the soldiers. —Amy Bizzarri, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2023

The Ukrainian president’s whirlwind tour aims to elicit pledges for more armaments, including fighter jets, along with funds to rebuild what’s been destroyed in more than 14 months since the Russian invasion. —Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 14 May 2023

Police need some of the heavy armament that some people criticize as excessive. —Michael Fanone, CNN, 16 Apr. 2023

In addition to their nuclear armament, each of the subs is equipped with four 533-millimeter torpedo tubes. —Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 1 May 2023

For the past decade, public polls have shown a majority of South Koreans support nuclear armament, and now, upward of 70 percent of the population supports it. —Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2023

Nuclear armament would most likely anger both China, South Korea’s largest trading partner, and the U.S., its longtime defense guarantor. —Michael Mitsanas, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2023

Some observers are worried the Pentagon is not doing enough to replenish the billions of dollars in armaments that have left American stocks. —Missy Ryan, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023

Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate believes that this placement of armaments endangers both plant personnel and local residents. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 4 May 2023

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Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French armement "action of arming, equipping of an armed force" (from armer "to arm entry 2" + -ment -ment), reshaped after Latin armāmenta (neuter plural) "sailing gear of a ship, equipment, implements," from armāre "to arm entry 2, equip" + -menta, plural of -mentum -ment

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

armament

noun

ar·​ma·​ment ˈär-mə-mənt 

1

: the military strength and equipment of a nation

2

: a supply of war materials

3

: the process of preparing for war