field artillery
C1Technical/Military/Formal
Definition
Meaning
Mobile artillery weapons, such as cannons or howitzers, designed to be transported onto the battlefield to support infantry and armored units.
The branch of an army that operates such mobile guns; in a broader sense, the unit or personnel responsible for operating this class of weaponry.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically refers to cannons, howitzers, and mortars of a certain size that are not permanently emplaced. The term often excludes self-propelled artillery (like tanks), which is a more specific subcategory, though modern usage sometimes includes it. Primarily a collective noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. The organisational term 'Royal Regiment of Artillery' is specific to the UK. The US uses terms like 'Field Artillery Branch'.
Connotations
Both carry strong military, historical, and technical connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard within military contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [noun: army/division] deployed its field artillery.Field artillery [verb: provided/supported/bombarded] the position.They came under heavy fire from field artillery.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, military history, and political science texts discussing warfare.
Everyday
Extremely rare, only in discussions of military matters or history.
Technical
Standard term in military doctrine, procurement, and tactical discussions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- []
American English
- []
adverb
British English
- []
American English
- []
adjective
British English
- The field artillery regiment practised its drills on Salisbury Plain.
- They studied field artillery tactics at Sandhurst.
American English
- The field artillery unit was deployed to Fort Sill for training.
- He served as a field artillery officer in the 1st Division.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Soldiers use field artillery in battles.
- The field artillery fired many shells at the enemy position.
- Field artillery is important for supporting infantry attacks.
- Napoleon's effective use of mobile field artillery was a key factor in his early victories.
- Modern field artillery can be rapidly deployed using helicopters.
- The precision and range of contemporary field artillery systems have fundamentally altered battlefield tactics, necessitating greater dispersal of forces.
- Critics argued that the defence procurement plan disproportionately favoured naval assets at the expense of modernising the army's ageing field artillery.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large, open FIELD where soldiers are setting up big cannons. FIELD + ARTILLERY = artillery for the field.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARTILLERY IS A LONG-REACHING HAMMER (e.g., 'hammer the enemy positions with field artillery').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'полевая артиллерия' when referring to self-propelled guns in very modern contexts; the Russian term is correct but may sound slightly historical. Ensure the context matches 'артиллерия полевой /войсковой артиллерии'. Avoid confusing with 'противотанковая артиллерия' (anti-tank artillery).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'field artillery' to refer to tanks (they are armored vehicles, not primarily artillery).
- Confusing it with 'siege artillery' (which is heavier and less mobile).
- Using it as a countable noun (*'three field artilleries'*) – prefer 'three field artillery pieces' or 'three batteries'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of 'field artillery'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A cannon is a type of field artillery piece. 'Field artillery' is the broader category including cannons, howitzers, and mortars.
Yes, it can refer to the branch of the army or the personnel who operate the guns (e.g., 'He served in the field artillery').
Field artillery is mobile and for use on land battlefields. Coastal artillery is fixed in permanent emplacements to defend coastlines.
Yes. British English: /ɑːˈtɪləri/. American English: /ɑːrˈtɪləri/. The 'r' in 'ar-' is pronounced in American English.