armory

noun

ar·​mory ˈärm-rē 

ˈär-mə-

plural armories

1

a

: 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

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.

Synonyms of armory

• warehouse
• depot
• arsenal

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

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire a year ago, but Israel — which says the group has been rebuilding its armories, and that Lebanon is failing in its commitment to disarm it — has ramped up attacks against Hezbollah in recent days. —semafor.com, 27 Nov. 2025

There's a reason these have been made in people's backyards instead of coming from an armory. —Charlottegraham-McLay The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Nov. 2025

Anti-war activists attacked an armory. —Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 12 Nov. 2025

Kimpton Armory Hotel — Montana The Art Deco building in Bozeman was originally constructed in 1941 to serve as the Montana National Guard’s armory, featuring 18-inch-thick walls, a rifle range, a soundproof music room and space for military vehicles. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for armory

• armoury
• gendarmerie

Kids Definition

armory

noun

ar·​mory ˈärm-(ə-)rē 

plural armories

1

: a supply of weapons

2

: a place where arms are kept and where soldiers are often trained

3

: a place where arms are made