# ordnance

/ˈɔɹdnəns/ (US) · /ˈɔːdnəns/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ordnance
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

military supplies like weapons, ammunition, and vehicles. It also refers to the government department that manages these items.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The city council passed a new ordnance." but "The city council passed a new ordinance." — Learners confuse 'ordnance' (military weaponry) with 'ordinance' (a local law or decree).

## Usage notes

- Commonly used as a collective noun; in modern contexts, it frequently appears in the phrase 'unexploded ordnance' (UXO).

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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.