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armory

noun
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ar·​mory | \ ˈärm-rē How to pronounce armory (audio) , ˈär-mə- \
plural armories

Definition of armory

1a : a supply of arms for defense or attack
b : a collection of available resources
2 : a place where arms and military equipment are stored especially : one used for training reserve military personnel
3 : a place where arms are manufactured
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Synonyms for armory

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Did You Know?

An armory has traditionally been a military storage compound where machine guns, rifles, pistols, ammunition, parts, and accessories are kept. In the U.S., National Guard and Reserve units often use armories as training headquarters in peacetime. Ever since George Washington established the country's first armory in Springfield in 1777, arsenals and armories of the Army Ordnance Corps have had a remarkable history of arms manufacture.

Examples of armory in a Sentence

the site of a 19th-century armory the soldier was sent to the armory to get a replacement weapon for the one that had been stolen
Recent Examples on the Web In 1859, the abolitionist John Brown and twenty-two followers raided a federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. — R.h. Lossin, The New York Review of Books, "The Revolutionary Thoreau," 4 Sep. 2020 The ceremony was abbreviated and scaled back because of COVID-19, but loved ones still gathered at the Stillwater armory for lunch and parting words from company commander Capt. — Kim Hyatt, Star Tribune, "Emotions high as Stillwater-based Guard members prepare to deploy," 9 Aug. 2020 His death is just one in a recent string of tragedies connected to Fort Hood, which was thrust into the national spotlight after 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen was bludgeoned to death by a fellow soldier in an armory room at the base. — Danielle Wallace, Fox News, "Fort Hood soldier's body returns to Massachusetts as Texas base commander loses post," 2 Sep. 2020 Then on Tuesday, soldiers in Kati took weapons from the armory at the barracks and detained senior military officers. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Path forward unclear after military coup ousts Mali president," 19 Aug. 2020 The project also includes the redevelopment of the former National Guard armory building into Towson University’s StarTUp, an incubator for startup businesses, and a 220-room hotel. — Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Construction starts on 2nd apartment building at Towson Row development," 13 Aug. 2020 The armory is home to Great Depression-era murals, plaster carvings and extensive wood carvings, according to HistoricDetroit.org. — Adrienne Roberts, Detroit Free Press, "The Parade Co. submits plan to buy long-vacant naval armory along Detroit River," 10 Aug. 2020 John Brown led an attack on the federal armory in Harpers Ferry in 1859 in an attempt to free the slaves. — John M. Crisp, Star Tribune, "How does a good citizen cope with a bad government?," 3 Aug. 2020 Investigators said she was beaten to death with a hammer in a Fort Hood armory room before being moved off the base by the killer, who is believed to have been found dead after an apparent suicide. — Andrew Mark Miller, Washington Examiner, "Trump offers to pay for funeral of Army specialist found dead after vanishing from Fort Hood," 30 July 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'armory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of armory

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

History and Etymology for armory

Middle English armerie, armurie, armorye "armor and weapons, storehouse for weaponry, workshop in which weapons are made or repaired," borrowed from Anglo-French armurrie, from armure "arms, armor" + -ie -y entry 2

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Time Traveler for armory

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The first known use of armory was in the 14th century

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Statistics for armory

Last Updated

17 Sep 2020

Cite this Entry

“Armory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armory. Accessed 23 Sep. 2020.

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More Definitions for armory

armory

noun
How to pronounce armory (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of armory

: a supply of weapons
: a place where weapons are kept especially, US : a place where weapons are kept and where soldiers are trained
: a place where weapons are made

See the full definition for armory in the English Language Learners Dictionary

armory

noun
ar·​mory | \ ˈär-mə-rē How to pronounce armory (audio) \
plural armories

Kids Definition of armory

1 : a supply of weapons
2 : a place where weapons are kept and where soldiers are often trained
3 : a place where weapons are made

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More from Merriam-Webster on armory

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for armory

Nglish: Translation of armory for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of armory for Arabic Speakers

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