noun
Common
artillery
ah-TIH-luh-ree
Artillery (noun) means Large guns used in warfare, or the branch of an army that operates them. Example: “Heavy artillery rolled slowly along the muddy road towards the front.”
noun
1
Large guns used in warfare, or the branch of an army that operates them.
"Heavy artillery rolled slowly along the muddy road towards the front."
"He served in the artillery for ten years before leaving the army."
"The artillery bombarded the enemy position at dawn."
How to use artillery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHeavy guns used in warfare, or the military unit that operates them.
Common pairings
heavy artillery
artillery fire
artillery unit
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like artillery.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- artilleries
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Heavy _____ rolled slowly along the muddy road towards the front.
Etymology
From Old French artillerie, related to atillier, "to equip or fit out" — originally covering any war equipment, not just big guns.
Related words
Rhymes for artillery
See all rhymes for artillery →Frequently asked questions
What does “artillery” mean?
The word “artillery” means large guns used in warfare, or the branch of an army that operates them. In plain terms, heavy guns used in warfare, or the military unit that operates them.
How do you pronounce “artillery”?
“Artillery” is pronounced ah-TIH-luh-ree (/ɑɹˈtɪləɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “artillery” in a sentence?
Here is “artillery” used in a sentence: “The artillery bombarded the enemy position at dawn.”
What part of speech is “artillery”?
“Artillery” is a noun.
Where does the word “artillery” come from?
The word “artillery” comes from Old French. From Old French artillerie, related to atillier, "to equip or fit out" — originally covering any war equipment, not just big guns.
Is “artillery” a common word?
“Artillery” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "artillery" and "infantry"?
Artillery is the branch of an army that operates large guns, as well as the guns themselves. Infantry, by contrast, refers to soldiers who fight on foot. The two are distinct branches with different roles on the battlefield.
What is the difference between "artillery" and a "cannon"?
A cannon is a single large gun, whereas "artillery" is a collective term covering large guns in general or the army branch that uses them. An army might have powerful artillery made up of many individual cannons.
Is "artillery" singular or plural?
"Artillery" is an uncountable (mass) noun and takes a singular verb, as in "the artillery was positioned on the ridge." You do not add an -s to make it plural; to count the weapons, use "pieces of artillery."
What are common collocations with "artillery"?
"Artillery" often pairs with words like "fire," "shell," "barrage," "battery," and "piece," and appears in phrases such as "heavy artillery" and "artillery bombardment." Figuratively, "bring out the heavy artillery" means to use one's most powerful resources.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include artillery:
