gunnery

noun

gun·​nery ˈgə-nə-rē How to pronounce gunnery (audio)
ˈgən-
: the use of guns
especially : the science of the flight of projectiles and of the effective use of guns

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web As sophisticated as men-of-war were with their sail propulsion and lethal gunnery, they were largely made from simple, perishable materials: hemp, canvas, and, most of all, timber. David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023 In a film rather weighed down with tragic let's-kill-Felix purpose, Bond went to Cuba to meet Paloma (Ana de Armas), a cheerful rookie with a zest for glam gunnery. Darren Franich, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2022 Typically, there will be a display tent with armor that onlookers can try on, a fiber arts display tent with medieval children’s clothing, a gunnery display tent, and a kitchen tent, in addition to the tents the performers sleep in, Caton said. Bailey Allen, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Oct. 2022 The relevant, realistic training program includes gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations. Hartford Courant, 25 July 2022 The competition consisted of aerial gunnery at 12,000 feet and 20,000 feet, skip bombing, rocket firing, panel strafing and dive bombing, according to the Air Force. Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 29 May 2022 The Marines were participating in a routine live-fire training over their gunnery range in the Imperial Valley desert, said Marine Maj. Julie Watson, Lolita C. Baldor, Anchorage Daily News, 9 June 2022 In 1949, the Air Force held the first gunnery competition at what was then Las Vegas Air Force Base, now Nellis Air Force Base. Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 29 May 2022 The 332nd Fighter Group, better known as the Tuskegee Airmen, made history in 1949 as winners of the first Top Gun contest, a gunnery competition that drew top pilots from across the Air Force. Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gunnery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunnery was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near gunnery

Cite this Entry

“Gunnery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunnery. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Kids Definition

gunnery

noun
gun·​nery ˈgən-(ə-)rē How to pronounce gunnery (audio)
: the use of guns

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