artillery

American  

[ahr-til-uh-ree] / ɑrˈtɪl ə ri /

noun

1. mounted projectile-firing guns or missile launchers, mobile or stationary, light or heavy, as distinguished from small arms.

2. the troops or the branch of an army concerned with the use and service of such weapons.

3. the science that treats of the use of such weapons.

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artillery British  

/ ɑːˈtɪlərɪ /

noun

1. guns, cannon, howitzers, mortars, etc, of calibre greater than 20 mm

2. troops or military units specializing in using such guns

3. the science dealing with the use of guns

4. devices for discharging heavy missiles, such as catapults or slings

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Etymology

Origin of artillery

1350–1400; Middle English artil ( le ) rie, artelry, art ( u ) ry armaments, ballistic engines < Anglo-French, Middle French artillerie, equivalent to Old French artill ( ier ) to equip, arm, alteration, by association with art art ¹, of atill ( i ) er to set in order, put on armor (< Vulgar Latin *apticulāre, derivative of Latin aptāre to put on (armor, ornaments, etc.; adapt ); -i- for expected -ei- perhaps by association with atirier; attire ) + -erie -ery

Explanation

Artillery refers to large-caliber guns — guns with big barrels — which can be moved from one place to another for land battles. The artillery is also the name for the army unit that uses these big guns. If you're a military commander and you say, "Bring in the heavy artillery," you're ordering the artillery to move into place and get ready for action. But if you're talking to fellow members of your debate team and you say, “Bring in the heavy artillery,” you mean "bring in our best debaters, our heaviest hitters." Artillery can refer to one weapon or 100 — the singular and plural are the same.

Example Sentences

Israel's famed Iron Dome system is the third tier and was originally designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Moscow has used the Caspian to bring in large quantities of Iranian artillery shells and other ammunition to resupply troops on the front lines, the Journal has reported.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

"It appears that there is controversy recently ⁠over US forces in Korea shipping some weapons, such as artillery batteries and air defence weapons, out of the country," he said in a cabinet meeting.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Tigri, 47, was a quiet, respected artillery officer trained in Belgium, France, China and India.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

In Berlin thousands of celebrants gathered to watch and to cheer as Hitler reviewed a procession of more than fifteen hundred tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces rumbling through the city’s massive park, the Tiergarten.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Related Words

• battery
• cannon
• ordnance