ordnance
C2Formal, Technical, Military
Definition
Meaning
Military weapons, ammunition, and artillery, especially heavy guns.
A government or military department responsible for weapons and military supplies; can refer broadly to military materiel.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A collective noun, typically uncountable. Often used in contexts of logistics, storage, disposal, and surveying.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. The term 'Ordnance Survey' is a proper noun for the UK's national mapping agency, which has no direct US equivalent.
Connotations
Primarily military and governmental. In the UK, strongly associated with the Ordnance Survey mapping agency, giving an additional institutional/cartographic connotation.
Frequency
Low frequency in general use in both varieties, slightly higher in UK due to 'Ordnance Survey'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[adjective] ordnanceordnance of [type/period]ordnance + noun (e.g., disposal, store)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lay down the ordnance (rare, contextual)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused, except in defence contracting.
Academic
Used in military history, engineering, political science, and geography (via Ordnance Survey).
Everyday
Rare. Likely only encountered in news about military conflicts or historical documentaries.
Technical
Standard in military, defence, and explosive disposal contexts (EOD).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The museum had old ordnance from the war.
- The map was made by Ordnance Survey.
- The soldiers checked their ordnance before the exercise.
- Unexploded ordnance is very dangerous.
- The base was responsible for storing and maintaining all heavy ordnance.
- Ordnance Survey maps are essential for hiking in the UK.
- The disarmament treaty placed strict limits on the movement of strategic ordnance.
- Expert teams conducted a meticulous clearance of explosive ordnance in the conflict zone.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link to 'order' and 'ordinance' - think 'military ordinance' (a command for weapons). Remember the 'n' in 'ordnance' stands for 'naval' or 'weapons'.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEAPONS ARE BURDENS / TOOLS OF AUTHORITY (heavy ordnance, the weight of firepower).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'ординарный' (ordinary).
- Не путать с 'ордонанс' (ordonance - устаревшее: распоряжение, приказ).
- Основное значение - вооружение, боеприпасы, а не просто 'порядок' (order).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'ordinance' (a law or decree).
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'three ordnances').
- Using in non-military contexts.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'ordnance'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Ordnance' refers to military weapons and supplies. 'Ordinance' is a law or decree issued by a local authority.
Typically, no. It is an uncountable collective noun (e.g., 'a large stockpile of ordnance'). It is rarely pluralized, except when referring to multiple types (e.g., 'various ordnances of the 18th century').
It originated from the War Office's Department of Ordnance, which conducted surveys for military purposes in the late 18th century.
It can, but it more strongly connotes larger military equipment like artillery, ammunition, and explosives. Small arms are often specified separately (e.g., 'small arms and ordnance').
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