ammunition
gb/ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/ us/ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 6100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
bullets and shells for weapons
Bullets and other things you put in a gun or weapon so it can fire.
Usage pattern:
[ammunition] for [a weapon]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "ammunition" with "weapon". A weapon is the tool used to fight (like a gun), while ammunition is what you put into the weapon (like bullets or shells). Also, "ammunition" is almost always used as an uncountable noun in modern English (you usually say "some ammunition", not "an ammunition").
Synonyms
ammo (A shorter, more informal word often used in speech or military contexts.)
Antonyms
disarmament (Refers to reducing or removing weapons and ammunition, the opposite situation of having ammunition available.)
Collocations
live ammunition
|small-arms ammunition
|carry ammunition
|spare ammunition
|ammunition depot
|run out of ammunition
Themes
military
|security
|technology
|core_vocabulary
|law
Examples
- The soldiers checked their ammunition before moving forward.
- We had enough ammunition for only one more hour of fighting.
- Live ammunition will be used during the training exercise, so safety rules are strict.
- He keeps his hunting rifles and ammunition locked in a safe.
- The rebels seized weapons and ammunition from the army base.
Learner examples
- The police found guns and ammunition in the car.
- The soldier put more ammunition in his bag.
- We ran out of ammunition during the battle.
- They bought extra ammunition for the trip.
- This gun uses a different type of ammunition.
Noun
C1
entity
2
information used to attack someone
Information or facts that help someone attack or hurt another person in an argument.
Usage pattern:
[something] gives [someone] ammunition against [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is still about physical bullets. In this sense, "ammunition" is abstract: it is information or facts, not real weapons. It is often used with verbs like "give", "provide", or "hand" when talking about arguments or criticism.
Synonyms
fodder (Often used figuratively like "ammunition" to mean material that can be used for criticism or discussion; slightly more informal and metaphorical.)
Antonyms
defense (Refers to arguments that protect someone, the opposite role of arguments used as 'ammunition' to attack.)
Collocations
political ammunition
|give ammunition to
|provide ammunition
|fresh ammunition
|ammunition against
|use as ammunition
Themes
communication
|politics
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- These mistakes will give our opponents plenty of political ammunition.
- The report provided fresh ammunition for critics of the policy.
- Leaking that email would only supply the media with more ammunition.
- Her rude comment became ammunition for those who already disliked her.
- We must be careful not to hand the other side any more ammunition in this debate.
Learner examples
- The bad results were ammunition for his enemies.
- That photo gave the press more ammunition to attack the singer.
- His lie became ammunition for the other team in the argument.
- The article gave the teacher ammunition to talk about online safety.
- She did not want to give her boss any ammunition to criticize her.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ammunition
IPA
GB/ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
US/ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
am - muni - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tion)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ammunition
- Plural: ammunition, ammunitions
Word family
Forms
ammunitions
noun
Core family
ammo
noun
Related words
munition
noun
Expressions
ammunition belt
1/ˌæmjənˈɪʃən bˈɛlt/
fixed phrase
belt holding many bullets
A belt or long strip that holds many bullets together so they can go into a gun quickly.
Examples
- The gunner fed a new ammunition belt into the machine gun.
- He wore an ammunition belt across his chest in the movie.
ammunition depot
1/ˌæmjənˈɪʃən dˈipoʊ/
fixed phrase
technical
large ammunition storage facility
A large military building or area where ammunition is stored.
Examples
- The airstrike targeted an ammunition depot near the border.
- Workers at the ammunition depot followed strict safety procedures.
ammunition dump
1/ˌæmjənˈɪʃən dˈʌmp/
fixed phrase
outdoor ammunition storage area
A place where a large amount of ammunition is stored.
Examples
- An explosion at an ammunition dump shook the nearby village.
- Soldiers guarded the ammunition dump day and night.
blank ammunition
1/blˈæŋk ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
cartridges without a bullet
Ammunition used in guns that makes a loud sound but does not fire a bullet.
Examples
- The actors used blank ammunition during the battle scene.
- For safety reasons, only blank ammunition is allowed in this exercise.
emotional ammunition
1/ɪmˈoʊʃənəl ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
informal
personal material to hurt someone
Personal information that someone can use to hurt another person’s feelings in an argument.
Examples
- She didn’t want to share anything that could become emotional ammunition in future fights.
- Talking about his past gave them emotional ammunition to use against him later.
give someone ammunition
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
give material for criticism
To do or say something that gives another person information they can use to attack or criticize someone.
Examples
- Lying about the numbers will only give your critics more ammunition.
- Her careless tweet gave the opposition ammunition to question her judgment.
live ammunition
1/lˈaɪv ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
real bullets used in weapons
Ammunition that is real and dangerous, not for practice.
Examples
- The army was training with live ammunition, so everyone had to follow strict safety rules.
- Police confirmed that live ammunition was used during the operation.
political ammunition
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
information used in politics
Information that helps one political side attack or hurt another side.
Examples
- The scandal became powerful political ammunition for the opposition.
- Rising prices are political ammunition for critics of the government.
provide ammunition
1/pɹəvˈaɪd ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
supply information for attack
To give information that helps someone attack or criticize another person or group.
Examples
- The report provided ample ammunition for those who oppose the plan.
- Any mistake will provide ammunition to our competitors.
run out of ammunition
1/ɹˈʌn ˈaʊt əv ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
have no ammunition left
To use all your ammunition so you do not have any more.
Examples
- The unit had to retreat after they ran out of ammunition.
- We ran out of ammunition and couldn’t continue the exercise.
small-arms ammunition
1/smˈɔl ˈɑɹmz ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
ammunition for pistols and rifles
Ammunition used in small handheld guns like pistols and rifles.
Examples
- The shipment included rifles and small-arms ammunition.
- They specialize in producing small-arms ammunition for military clients.
spent ammunition
1/spˈɛnt ˌæmjənˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
used bullet casings
Ammunition that has already been fired and is now empty.
Examples
- The ground was covered with spent ammunition after the firefight.
- Investigators collected spent ammunition from the crime scene.