ordnance

American  

[awrd-nuhns] / ˈɔrd nəns /

noun

1. cannon or artillery.

2. military weapons with their equipment, ammunition, etc.

3. the branch of an army that procures, stores, and issues, weapons, munitions, and combat vehicles and maintains arsenals for their development and testing.

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ordnance British  

/ ˈɔːdnəns /

noun

1. cannon or artillery

2. military supplies; munitions

3. a department of an army or government dealing with military supplies

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Etymology

Origin of ordnance

First recorded in 1620–30; syncopated variant of ordinance

Example Sentences

Around a fifth of Ukraine is contaminated by mines or unexploded ordnance, according to the UN's Mine Action Service.

From Barron's

Air Force was dumping thousands of tons of ordnance, World War II-style, with little or no strategic result.

From The Wall Street Journal

"If we speak about unexploded ordnance in general - missiles, artillery shells, aerial bombs - the total number will be many times higher" than several thousand, Fox says.

From BBC

Since the closure of Martin Street car park a more detailed unexploded ordnance survey has taken place - which was not possible before due to the car park surface - it added.

From BBC

"The problem is not just the volume of rubble, it's also the fact that its content is quite a matter of concern, with unexploded ordnance in the rubble, dangerous waste, and unfortunately also human remains."

From Barron's

Related Words

• munitions