ordnance

noun

ord·​nance ˈȯrd-nən(t)s 

1

a

: military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and maintenance tools and equipment

bombers dropped heavy concentrations of ordnance on every targeted airfield

—Ron Dick

b

: a service of the army charged with the procuring, distributing, and safekeeping of ordnance

2

: cannon, artillery

Several pieces of ordnance bombarded the entrenched enemy.

Synonyms

• artillery
• guns

Examples of ordnance in a Sentence

The company was outfitted with 50-millimeter ordnance.

the army is waiting for the heavy ordnance to be brought in

Recent Examples on the Web

The 550-pound ordnance had been buried underground at Miyazaki Airport, located along the southwest coast of Japan. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024

The big unexploded ordnance lying under this term is the possibility of another election-eve or post-election case in which the presidential election hangs in the balance. —Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 8 Oct. 2024

Patania also recruited members of the Italian navy who often dive in the area to clear underwater ordnance left over from World War II. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024

Trevor Ball, a former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, said that footage released by the IDF showed F-15 fighter aircraft taking off loaded with BLU-109 bombs. —NBC News, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ordinaunce, from Anglo-French ordenance disposition, preparation, military provisions — more at ordinance

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

ordnance

noun

ord·​nance ˈȯrd-nən(t)s 

1

: military supplies

also : the branch of the army that obtains and gives out military supplies

2

: artillery sense 1