noun
Common
ammunition
am-yoo-NIH-shuhn
Ammunition (noun) means Bullets, shells, and other projectiles used in firearms and weapons. Example: “The museum displayed old rifles alongside boxes of rusty ammunition.”
noun
1
Bullets, shells, and other projectiles used in firearms and weapons.
"The museum displayed old rifles alongside boxes of rusty ammunition."
"The convoy carried food, medical supplies, and ammunition."
"Soldiers were told to conserve their ammunition."
2
Facts, arguments, or information that can be used to attack or undermine someone in a dispute.
"His careless comment handed the critics fresh ammunition to use against him."
"The lawyer searched the records for ammunition to challenge the witness's story."
"The leaked emails gave her opponents plenty of ammunition."
How to use ammunition
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literal bullets/shells for weapons, or, figuratively, material you can use to argue your case or attack someone.
Common pairings
run out of ammunition
live ammunition
political ammunition
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Word forms
- Plural
- ammunitions
- Third person singular
- ammunitions
- Past tense
- ammunitioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum displayed old rifles alongside boxes of rusty _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from French, ultimately from Latin munitio, "defense, fortification" — the initial "a" crept in when "la munition" was mistakenly split as "l'amunition".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ammunition
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for ammunition →
Frequently asked questions
What does “ammunition” mean?
The word “ammunition” means bullets, shells, and other projectiles used in firearms and weapons. In plain terms, either literal bullets/shells for weapons, or, figuratively, material you can use to argue your case or attack someone.
How do you pronounce “ammunition”?
“Ammunition” is pronounced am-yoo-NIH-shuhn (/ˌæmjuˈnɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “ammunition” in a sentence?
Here is “ammunition” used in a sentence: “The convoy carried food, medical supplies, and ammunition.”
What part of speech is “ammunition”?
“Ammunition” is a noun.
Where does the word “ammunition” come from?
The word “ammunition” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French, ultimately from Latin munitio, "defense, fortification" — the initial "a" crept in when "la munition" was mistakenly split as "l'amunition".
Is “ammunition” a common word?
“Ammunition” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ammunition” have?
“Ammunition” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: bullets, shells, and other projectiles used in firearms and weapons.
What is the difference between ammunition and munitions?
Ammunition refers specifically to bullets, shells, and other projectiles fired from weapons. "Munitions" is broader and covers military weapons, equipment, and supplies in general.
What is the difference between "ammunition" and "ammo"?
They mean the same thing; "ammo" is simply the informal, shortened form. "Ammo" suits casual speech, while "ammunition" fits formal or technical writing.
Is ammunition countable or uncountable?
Ammunition is uncountable, so it takes no plural "s." You would say "some ammunition" or "rounds of ammunition," not "ammunitions."
How is ammunition used figuratively?
Figuratively, ammunition means facts, arguments, or information used to attack or undermine someone in a dispute. For example, a mistake might "give critics ammunition."
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