ammunition
[am-yuh-nish-uh n]
- the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon, as bombs or rockets, and especially shot, shrapnel, bullets, or shells fired by guns.
- the means of igniting or exploding such material, as primers, fuzes, and gunpowder.
- any material, means, weapons, etc., used in any conflict: a crude ammunition of stones.
- information, advice, or supplies to help defend or attack a viewpoint, argument, or claim: Give me some ammunition for the debate.
- Obsolete. any military supplies.
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Origin of ammunition
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ammunition
Contemporary Examples
It was with this ammunition that Australians organized protests at events where Blanc was scheduled to appear.
When Louise and Bibi returned to their home, they found it strewn with ammunition and pockmarked with mortar craters.
A burly Belgian, strapped with grenades and ammunition, towered above them.
When we asked about where the ammunition in the Korengal came from, all that Zalwar Khan ever said was, “They came from Allah.”
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban ValleyMatt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman
November 15, 2014
The battalion also is short of ammunition, Sergei says, but he insists he would still like to return to battle.
Historical Examples
They had also taken the two available guns, and nearly all the ammunition.
Explorations in AustraliaJohn Forrest
You will take all arms and ammunition for the use of our service.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
I'm not sure that it would shoot if I had ammunition, but I'd like to try.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
Indents had to be made out for transport, rations and ammunition.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
In your husband's box, ammunition takes the place of toilet articles.
A Woman TenderfootGrace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
ammunition
- any projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, etc, that can be discharged from a weapon
- bombs, missiles, chemicals, biological agents, nuclear materials, etc, capable of use as weapons
- any means of defence or attack, as in an argument
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Word Origin
C17: from obsolete French amunition, by mistaken division from earlier la munition; see munition
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for ammunition
n.
1620s, from French soldiers' faulty separation of Middle French la munition into l'ammunition; from Latin munitionem (nominative munitio) "a fortifying" (see munition), and at first meaning all military supplies in general. The mistake in the word perhaps was by influence of French a(d)monition "warning." The error was corrected in French (Modern French munition), but retained in English.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper