# arsenal

/ˈɑɹsənəɫ/ (US) · /ˈɑːsənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arsenal
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. military storage

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a building or place where weapons and military equipment are made or stored.

For teachers: a military establishment for the manufacture, storage, or repair of arms and ammunition.

- The old arsenal was converted into a museum showing weapons from the war.
- Security at the naval arsenal was tightened significantly following reports of a potential breach in the perimeter fence.

### 2. stock of weapons

noun · CEFR B2

all the weapons that a country or group has.

For teachers: the entire collection of weaponry and war materiel possessed by a nation or military force.

- The two countries agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal to keep the peace.
- Diplomatic efforts focused on the systematic decommissioning of the chemical arsenal that had been accumulated over the previous decade.

### 3. collection of resources

noun · CEFR B2

a wide range of skills, tools, or methods that you can use to achieve something.

For teachers: a figurative store or supply of resources, skills, or arguments available for a particular purpose.

- The lawyer had a whole arsenal of evidence to prove her client was innocent.
- Modern doctors have a vast arsenal of antibiotics at their disposal, though the rise of resistant bacteria remains a significant concern.

### 4. football club

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a famous professional football team based in London.

For teachers: refers specifically to Arsenal Football Club, a major professional team in the English Premier League.

- He has been a loyal Arsenal fan since he was a young boy.
- The match at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal secure a narrow victory against their North London rivals.

## Examples

- The country is slowly reducing its nuclear arsenal.
- The lawyer used every legal trick in her arsenal to win the difficult case.
- While the city's historic arsenal now serves as a museum, it remains a stark reminder of the region's strategic importance during the nineteenth-century border conflicts.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.