artillery
C1Formal, Military, Technical, Figurative
Definition
Meaning
Large-calibre guns used in warfare on land.
The military units that operate such guns; also used metaphorically to refer to a heavy array of persuasive arguments, criticisms, or similar verbal "firepower".
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a collective noun referring to the weapon system and its operators as a whole. Rarely used in the plural except when referring to different types (e.g., 'the artilleries of several nations').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The organisation and naming of units within the Royal Artillery (UK) and US Army Artillery differ technically.
Connotations
Identical. Connotes heavy, indirect, and large-scale firepower.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in military and historical contexts in both varieties. Figurative use (e.g., 'media artillery') is equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] + artillery: deploy, position, call in, shell with, barrage with[ADJECTIVE] + artillery: heavy, light, field, anti-aircraft, mobile, stationaryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bring up the heavy artillery (figurative: use your strongest arguments or resources).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Figurative: 'The company brought out its legal artillery for the merger negotiations.'
Academic
In historical or military studies: 'The development of siege artillery changed medieval warfare.'
Everyday
Limited. Usually in news about war: 'The town was hit by artillery fire.'
Technical
Military science: 'Counter-battery radar is used to locate enemy artillery positions.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not standard; noun only)
American English
- (Not standard; noun only)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no adverbial form)
American English
- (Not standard; no adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- The artillery barrage was deafening.
- He was an artillery officer.
American English
- The artillery shelling was intense.
- She served in an artillery regiment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The soldiers heard the artillery in the distance.
- The ancient castle walls were destroyed by artillery.
- The general ordered the artillery to provide covering fire for the advancing infantry.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ART in ARTILLERY: Artists need tools; the military's 'art' of long-range combat uses big tools – ARTILLERY.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS WAR (figurative use): 'He unleashed his rhetorical artillery against the proposal.'
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The Russian word 'артиллерия' is a direct cognate, so meaning is clear. However, beware of false friends like 'артист' (artist/performer) which is unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'artilleries' as a plural for multiple guns (prefer 'artillery pieces'). Confusing it with 'artillery' as a verb (it is a noun; the verb is 'to shell' or 'to bombard').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical meaning or use of 'artillery'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You refer to 'the artillery' as a whole. For individual guns, use 'artillery piece' or 'gun'.
Yes, it's common to refer to a powerful set of arguments, criticisms, or resources as 'artillery' (e.g., 'He brought out the big artillery in the meeting').
'Artillery' is a broader, collective term for large-calibre gun systems and the military branch. A 'cannon' is a specific type of artillery piece, typically a long-barrelled gun.
No. The correct verbs are 'to bombard', 'to shell', or 'to barrage with artillery'.