Dictionary

ordnance en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɔːdɪnəns/ (UK, often)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈɔːdnəns/ (UK)
• ôrdʹnəns (UK)
• ôrdʹnəns (US)
• /ˈoɹdɪnəns/ (US) very often
• /ˈoɹdnəns/ (US)
• (US) audio

Etymology

A reduced form of ordinance, which is attested from the late 14th century in the sense of “military equipment or provisions”. The sense of “artillery” arises in the early 15th century, the sense “military logistics” in the late 15th century. The shortened form ordnance arises by the 17th century, now often distinguished in writing from the other meanings of ordinance. Also doublet of ordonnance.

Meanings

1. (collective, countable, uncountable) Military equipment, especially weapons and ammunition.
   • What Mr. Vance’s trip made clear is that both sides think they emerged as the victor of the first round: the United States by dropping so much ordnance on Iran, the Iranians by surviving. Neither seems in the mood for compromise. 2026 April 12, Tyler Pager, David E. Sanger, “What Now? Vance Leaves Iran Talks Without a Deal.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • When the Turkes tooke Conſtantinople, they melted the Bells into Ordnance; I haue heard both Bells and Ordnance, but neuer been ſo much affected with thoſe, as with theſe Bells. 1624, John Donne, chapter XVI, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, page 389:
2. (countable, uncountable) Artillery.
   • From the belfries far and near the funereal deathbell tolled unceasingly while all around the gloomy precincts rolled the ominous warning of a hundred muffled drums punctuated by the hollow booming of pieces of ordnance. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 12: Cyclops]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], pages 293–294:
   • Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire, / The King shal drinke to Hamlets better breath, c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:

Forms

Deriveds

Ordnance Survey · soft ordnance · ordnanceman · ordie

Translations (43)

ru боеприпа́сы (military equipment) · ja 軍用品 (military equipment) · fi taisteluväline (military equipment) · cs výzbroj (arms and ammunition) · de Militärmaterial (military equipment) · mk артиле́риски ору́дија (arms and ammunition) · cmn 大砲 /大炮 (artillery) · cs artilérie (artillery) · fi sotamateriaali (military equipment) · es municiones (arms and ammunition) · mk муни́ција (military equipment) · es pertrechos (arms and ammunition) · de Kampfmittel (military equipment) · ca artilleria (artillery) · mk у́бојни сре́дства (arms and ammunition) · pl artyleria (artillery) · de Artillerie (artillery) · mk артиле́рија (artillery) · fr munitions (arms and ammunition) · bg артилерия (artillery) · es pertrecho (arms and ammunition) · cs výzbroj (military equipment) · pt petrechos (arms and ammunition) · ru артилле́рия (artillery) · es munición (arms and ammunition) · el πυροβολικό (artillery) · es artillería (artillery) · cmn 軍械 /军械 (military equipment) · pl uzbrojenie (arms and ammunition) · tr mühimmat (military equipment) · es armas (arms and ammunition) · es pertrecho (military equipment) · pl uzbrojenie (military equipment) · es pertrechos (military equipment) · fi tykistö (artillery) · tr cephane (arms and ammunition) · nl geschut (arms and ammunition) · tr mühimmat (arms and ammunition) · pt artilharia (artillery) · fi ampumatarvikkeet (arms and ammunition) · ja 大砲 (artillery) · fi sotatarvike (military equipment) · ru артиллери́йские ору́дия (arms and ammunition)