ammunition

American  

[am-yuh-nish-uhn] / ˌæm yəˈnɪʃ ən /

noun

1. the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon, as bombs or rockets, and especially shot, shrapnel, bullets, or shells fired by guns.

2. the means of igniting or exploding such material, as primers, fuzes, and gunpowder.

3. any material, means, weapons, etc., used in any conflict.

   a crude ammunition of stones.

4. information, advice, or supplies to help defend or attack a viewpoint, argument, or claim.

   Give me some ammunition for the debate.

5. Obsolete. any military supplies.

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ammunition British  

/ ˌæmjʊˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. any projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, etc, that can be discharged from a weapon

2. bombs, missiles, chemicals, biological agents, nuclear materials, etc, capable of use as weapons

3. any means of defence or attack, as in an argument

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Etymology

Origin of ammunition

1620–30; < Middle French amonitions, amunitions (plural) military supplies ( a- a- ⁵ + munition < Latin; see munition), or < French la munition, wrongly analyzed as l'amunition

Explanation

Soldiers carry their ammunition: the bullets and shells needed for their guns. The word ammunition is used to describe the supply of shells or bullets used for a gun, as well as nuclear, chemical or biological matter that can be used in much larger weapons. But we also use it for metaphorical attack material. If you're trying to prove that your big brother is a jerk, your neighbor's story about how he kicked her dog is ammunition for your argument.

Example Sentences

In a world where public trust in science already hangs in the balance, a system that is visibly strained and occasionally embarrassed gives bad-faith actors fresh ammunition.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

AK-style pistol — and authorities also seized ammunition from his place of business.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

FedEx told AFP: "We do not make any international deliveries of weapons or ammunition."

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

The U.S. said all Iranian ships were subject to potential stops, regardless of location, along with ships suspected of carrying items deemed contraband such as weapons, ammunition and military electronics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

He’d help Big Jim organize ammunition, weapons, and rations for the Special Forces “A team” camps deep in the jungle.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

• ammo
• armament
• bomb
• bullet
• cartridge
• chemical
• explosive
• gunpowder
• materiel
• missile
• munition
• napalm
• rocket
• shrapnel
• torpedo