armoury: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal; also common in military and metaphorical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “armoury” mean?
A place where weapons, ammunition, and military equipment are stored.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A place where weapons, ammunition, and military equipment are stored.
A collection of resources, skills, or arguments that are available to be used effectively for a particular purpose.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK 'armoury', US 'armory'. The word is used in both varieties, but the physical sense may be more common in US due to gun culture.
Connotations
In the UK, strongly associated with historical or military institutions (e.g., the Tower of London Armouries). In the US, can refer to a National Guard or private gun storage facility.
Frequency
Comparatively low-frequency in everyday speech for both, but the metaphorical extension is equally likely in formal/written contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “armoury” in a Sentence
[adj] armoury of [noun pl.]the armoury [prep. location]stock the armoury with [weapons]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “armoury” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – 'to armour' is a different verb (to provide with protective covering).
American English
- N/A – 'to arm' is the related verb for providing weapons.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A – 'armoured' is the related adjective.
American English
- N/A – 'armored' is the related adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The company has a formidable armoury of patents to defend its market position.'
Academic
Metaphorical: 'The researcher deployed an armoury of statistical methods.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Possible: 'He keeps a whole armoury of tools in his garage.'
Technical
Military/Police: Secure storage facility for firearms and ammunition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “armoury”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “armoury”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “armoury”
- Misspelling: 'armory' in UK contexts, 'armoury' in US contexts.
- Using it to mean a single weapon (it's a collection/place).
- Confusing with 'armour' (the protective covering).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often synonyms, especially metaphorically. In strict military terms, an 'arsenal' can be a larger-scale manufacturing and storage complex, while an 'armoury' is typically a storage place.
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically to refer to any extensive collection of resources, skills, or arguments (e.g., 'an armoury of jokes').
'Armory' is the standard American English spelling. 'Armoury' is the standard British English spelling. Both are correct within their respective varieties.
The plural is 'armouries' (UK) or 'armories' (US).
A place where weapons, ammunition, and military equipment are stored.
Armoury is usually formal; also common in military and metaphorical contexts. in register.
Armoury: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑː.mər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːr.mɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A whole armoury of tricks/arguments”
- “To raid one's intellectual armoury”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ARMOUR (protective metal) stored in a place ending in -Y (like 'factory') – a place for armour and weapons.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/RESOURCES ARE WEAPONS (e.g., 'an armoury of facts').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'armoury' used metaphorically?