ammunition
/amjʊˈnɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
1A supply or quantity of bullets and shells: guns, ammunition, and explosives [as modifier]: an ammunition dump...
- Large quantities of ammunition and supplies had been stockpiled there.
- He is suspected of being a hired hitman able to supply guns and ammunition to contacts in the criminal underworld.
- By the winter artillery ammunition had been rationed to one or two shells per gun per day.
Synonyms
bullets, shells, projectiles, missiles, rounds, shot, slugs, cartridges, rockets, bombs, stores;
munitions, materiel
informal ammo
1.1Considerations that can be used to support one’s case in debate: these figures provide ammunition to the argument for more resources...
- His 19 years in the Senate have provided plenty of ammunition for critics to portray him as inconsistent.
- But it provides more ammunition to those opposed to American corporate globalisation.
- First, never ask what they would like to wear - it'll only provide them with ammunition.
Synonyms
arguments, considerations, points, pointers, material, information, evidence, testimony, facts, data, input;
fuel, encouragement
Origin
Late 16th century: from obsolete French amunition, alteration (by wrong division) of la munition 'the munition' (see munition).
This comes from obsolete French amunition, which was formed by misunderstanding where the division came in la munition ‘the munition’ (compare words at adder). At first the word referred to stores of all kinds. Munitions (Late Middle English) show the division in the right place.
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