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

• guns
• weapons

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

And many airlines — both regional and European — remain reluctant to share sky lanes with flying ordnance. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025

Should the United States offer that kind of massive ordnance penetrator to Israel to finish the job? —/ Cbs News, CBS News, 15 June 2025

The unit is responsible for the disposal of unexploded ordnance dropped on the island during World War II, and had previously disposed of more than 1,890 tons and over 40,000 cases without incident. —Brendan Cole john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025

So much of war depends on getting the right troops, transportation and ordnance together at the point of attack. —James Stavridis, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025

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