ammunition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ammunition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to military, firearms, or metaphorically to refer to resources or information that can be used to support an argument or position. Example: "The lawyer gathered all the necessary ammunition to strengthen her case in court."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Darling, who had asked Osborne after he assumed the leadership of Better Together in 2012 for Treasury back-up, had his ammunition as he joined forces with Dunlop to embark on a final round of discussions ahead of the chancellor's announcement in a speech in Edinburgh on 13 February.

The Guardian

The report said that abducted women and girls held by Boko Haram ranged in age from infancy to 65. "They and many others they saw in the camps were subjected to physical and psychological abuse; forced labour; forced participation in military operations, including carrying ammunition or luring men into ambush; forced marriage to the captors; and sexual abuse, including rape," the report says.

The Guardian

But Britain would provide weapons and ammunition if requested.

The Guardian

Of course a killer is after the members of a sorority, which should give these two all the ammunition they need.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Moscow said the troops had sought asylum, while Kiev said they were forced to flee into Russian territory after running out of ammunition.

The Guardian

Then they drove home to fetch a gun – a replica of a Colt 45 – and some blank ammunition and returned.

The Guardian

Plus they had plenty of ammunition to attack Ukip: the Tory-Ukip defector Douglas Carswell in 2012 wrote a book advocating the wholesale privatisation of the NHS, and Nuttall posted a letter on his website praising the coalition for bringing "a whiff of privatisation" to the health service.

The Guardian

On the second floor Joshua Hakim, who had stopped for a snack on his way to watch a rugby match, saw gunmen, some of whom looked to be teenagers, strapped with ammunition belts, carrying AK-47 assault rifles.

The Guardian

The RAF is also flying planeloads of ammunition, rifles and machine guns from former Soviet bloc countries in eastern Europe into Irbil in order to strengthen the fighting power of the Iraqi Kurdish security forces who are combatting the jihadis.

The Guardian

Which is yet another bombshell, delivered by the way in the midst of European and local government elections in Northern Ireland and that will provide powerful propaganda ammunition for hardline unionists critical of the political arrangements.

The Guardian

The troops had only a few hours' worth of ammunition and of the two ancient Russian armoured vehicles positioned nearby, only one could fire.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ammunition" metaphorically, ensure the context clearly indicates the figurative meaning to avoid confusion with literal military supplies. For example, instead of just saying "He had ammunition", clarify with "He had the ammunition he needed to win the debate".

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "ammunition" in professional or academic contexts. While acceptable, overuse can sound repetitive or aggressive. Vary your language with synonyms like "supporting evidence", "resources", or "arguments" for a more nuanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ammunition" is as a noun, referring to military supplies or, metaphorically, to resources for argument or debate. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in both literal and figurative senses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ammunition" is a noun that commonly refers to military supplies. However, it is also frequently used metaphorically to denote resources or information used to support an argument. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media. When using "ammunition", be mindful of the context to ensure clarity, and consider synonyms to avoid repetition in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

military supplies

Focuses specifically on the provision of resources to a military force.

arsenal

Emphasizes a collection of weapons and military equipment.

ordnance

Refers to heavy guns and artillery, or the branch of the armed forces dealing with them.

armaments

Highlights the equipment used in warfare.

military resources

Broader term encompassing all resources used by a military.

weapons and supplies

Highlights both offensive and supporting materials.

supporting arguments

Focuses on evidence used to back up a point of view.

evidence to support

Highlights the factual basis for an argument.

resources for debate

Emphasizes materials used in discussion or confrontation.

tools for persuasion

Focuses on the means used to convince others.

FAQs

How is "ammunition" typically used in a sentence?

The word "ammunition" is used to refer to the supply of bullets and shells. It is also used figuratively to refer to information that can be used against someone in an argument. For example: "The soldiers needed more ammunition", or "Her past mistakes gave her opponents ammunition for criticism".

What are some synonyms for "ammunition" in a figurative sense?

In a figurative sense, you can replace "ammunition" with terms like "supporting evidence", "resources", or "arguments", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "ammunition" to describe non-physical resources?

Yes, "ammunition" can be used metaphorically to describe non-physical resources, such as information or arguments, that can be used to support a position or challenge an opponent. This usage is common in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "ammunition" and "armament"?

"Ammunition" specifically refers to bullets, shells, and other projectiles used in firearms. "Armament", on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses all the weapons and equipment used by a military force, including guns, tanks, and other vehicles.