ordnance

noun

ord·​nance ˈȯrd-nən(t)s 

1

a

: military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and maintenance tools and equipment

bombers dropped heavy concentrations of ordnance on every targeted airfield

—Ron Dick

b

: a service of the army charged with the procuring, distributing, and safekeeping of ordnance

2

: cannon, artillery

Several pieces of ordnance bombarded the entrenched enemy.

Synonyms

• guns
• weapons

Examples of ordnance in a Sentence

The company was outfitted with 50-millimeter ordnance.

the army is waiting for the heavy ordnance to be brought in

Recent Examples on the Web

The Marine Corps was alerted and canceled the firing of additional live ordnance over the highway. —Susannah Cullinane, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025

Before reconstruction can begin, there need to be areas that are safe and cleared of unexploded ordnance, Yacoubian said. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2025

The White House, Navy and Marines had been privately discussing whether the exercise — which is expected to involve the use of ammo and ordnance during simulated warfare — warranted a freeway closure. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025

The Los Angeles Times said Newsom was considering shutting parts of the road due to live ordnance for the military celebration off Camp Pendleton’s coast in which Navy ships would fire over the freeway onto the base. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ordinaunce, from Anglo-French ordenance disposition, preparation, military provisions — more at ordinance

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

ordnance

noun

ord·​nance ˈȯrd-nən(t)s 

1

: military supplies

also : the branch of the army that obtains and gives out military supplies

2

: artillery sense 1