ammunition

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word ammunition. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word ammunition, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say ammunition in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word ammunition you have here. The definition of the word ammunition will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofammunition, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

an assortment of rifle ammunition

Etymology

From older French amunition, rebracketing of la munition (the war supplies) as l’amunition. Ultimately from Latin; see munition for more.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌæmjuˈnɪʃən/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

ammunition (countable and uncountable, plural ammunitions)

  1. Articles used in charging firearms and ordnance of all kinds; as powder, balls, shot, shells, percussion caps, rockets, etc.
    Synonym: ammo
  2. (obsolete) Military stores, or provisions of all kinds for attack or defense.
    ammunition bread
    ammunition shoes
  3. (figurative) Arguments and information that can be used against the other party in a conflict.
    • 1938, American Lumberman, page 52:
      They say that the booklet gives them ammunition which is proving effective in breaking down resistance against home building which was created by false propaganda.
    • 1960, America, Volume 104, America Press, page 697:
      As long as the integration fight is in progress, some Southerners are willing to believe anything if it gives them ammunition in their fight to "retain our traditional way of life." If you have any wise bits of philosophy, please pass them along.
    • 2005, Blanche Woolls, David V. Loertscher, The Whole School Library Handbook, American Library Association, →ISBN, page 146:
      Providing your administrator(s) with evidence of research progress gives them ammunition to request additional funds from the site-based management pool.
    • 2010, Joan Kloth-Zanard, Where Did I Go Wrong? How Did I Miss the Signs? Dealing with Hostile Parenting & Parental Alienation, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 109:
      The first thing to do is NOT constantly defend and argue with the ex or the children. It gives them ammunition and fuels their engines to come after you. In addition, you are just giving them more to use against you.
    • 2017 February 27, Mure Dickie, Henry Mance, “Theresa May’s speech to head off Scottish independence poll”, in Financial Times:
      However, preventing a vote from taking place could give ammunition to the SNP, which argues that Scotland’s view carries little weight in the union.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

ammunition (third-person singular simple present ammunitions, present participle ammunitioning, simple past and past participle ammunitioned)

  1. To supply with ammunition.

Swedish

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

Noun

ammunition c

  1. ammunition

Declension