ordnance
n.military supplies like weapons, ammunition, and vehicles. It also refers to the government department that manages these items.
n.military supplies including weapons, ammunition, and combat vehicles. Often refers to the branch of an army responsible for the procurement and maintenance of such equipment.
“The soldiers loaded the heavy ordnance onto the trucks.”
“Construction was halted when workers discovered unexploded ordnance from the war buried deep in the soil.”
“The logistical challenge of transporting heavy ordnance across the mountain range proved to be the decisive factor in the campaign's eventual failure.”
Commonly used as a collective noun; in modern contexts, it frequently appears in the phrase 'unexploded ordnance' (UXO).
Learners confuse 'ordnance' (military weaponry) with 'ordinance' (a local law or decree).
Usage ordnance survey
“Unexploded second world war ordnance was also hampering firefighting efforts.”
“Even with the guns largely silent, Palestinians in Gaza continue to face daily threats from unexploded ordnance left behind by the fighting.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.