weaponry are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weaponry are" is not correct in standard written English.
The noun "weaponry" is typically treated as a singular collective noun, so it should be paired with a singular verb. Example: "The weaponry is advanced and well-maintained."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Our four — no! Amongst our weaponry are such elements as fear and — I'll come in again").

The New Yorker

The costs of many of the ingredients of nuclear and chemical weaponry are falling fast.

The New York Times - Books

Suggestions that cyber weapons will replace traditional weaponry are fanciful to say the least.

The Guardian - Opinion

Today's war planners, with extraordinarily advanced weaponry, are far from overcoming a markedly inferior enemy.

The New York Times

Lists of weaponry are intriguing when you're sat by the pool, but you can always just go for another dip.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Any worries about the lack of modern weaponry are quickly banished by the array of available arms.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Weaponry is clearly innate to boyhood.

The New York Times

Two trucks and a warehouse full of weaponry were confiscated.

The New York Times

Not that such weaponry is everyone's cup of tea.

Independent

Weaponry is only the first and most obvious of these; the other is persuasion.

The New Yorker

At one meeting I attended, a disagreement about weaponry was swiftly resolved.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "weaponry", remember it's generally considered a collective noun and should be paired with a singular verb (e.g., "The weaponry is..."). If intending a plural sense, use "weapons" or "armaments".

Common error

Avoid using plural verbs with "weaponry". It's a common mistake to say "weaponry are" when the correct form is "weaponry is". If a plural verb is needed, opt for "weapons are" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weaponry are" typically functions as a noun phrase followed by a plural verb. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, "weaponry" is generally treated as a singular collective noun, making this construction grammatically suspect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While frequently encountered, especially in news and media, the phrase "weaponry are" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, "weaponry" functions as a collective noun, which typically requires a singular verb. Therefore, the correct form is "weaponry is". If a plural verb is desired, using "weapons are" or "armaments are" resolves the grammatical issue. The usage of "weaponry are" often aims to describe the characteristics or availability of weapons, but careful writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weapons are

Replaces the collective noun "weaponry" with the plural noun "weapons", correcting the grammatical inconsistency.

armaments are

Substitutes "weaponry" with the synonym "armaments", also a plural noun, to maintain grammatical correctness.

the weaponry is

Corrects the grammar by using the singular verb "is" to agree with the collective noun "weaponry".

the arsenal includes

Replaces "weaponry" with "arsenal" and uses "includes" to describe what the arsenal contains, changing the structure but retaining the core meaning.

arms consist of

Uses "arms" as a substitute for "weaponry" and changes the sentence structure to describe the composition of the arms.

the available weapons include

Specifies that we are talking about "available weapons" and what those weapons include.

the military equipment comprises

Shifts focus to "military equipment" and uses "comprises" to describe the equipment's constituents.

the war material encompasses

Emphasizes "war material" as a broader term, using "encompasses" to indicate the scope of the material.

the fighting tools are

Replaces weaponry with a more descriptive phrase, "fighting tools", retaining the plural verb "are".

combat resources involve

Shifts the focus to "combat resources", indicating a wider range of elements involved in combat.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "weaponry are"?

No, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. "Weaponry" is a collective noun, so it should typically be paired with a singular verb: "weaponry is". If you want to use a plural verb, use the plural noun "weapons are".

What's the difference between "weaponry is" and "weapons are"?

"Weaponry" is a collective noun referring to a collection of weapons, so it takes a singular verb ("weaponry is"). "Weapons" is the plural form of "weapon", so it takes a plural verb ("weapons are").

When should I use "weaponry" vs "weapons"?

Use "weaponry" when you want to refer to the entire collection of weapons in a general sense (e.g., "The nation's weaponry is advanced"). Use "weapons" when you want to refer to individual items or specific types of weapons (e.g., "The weapons are being inspected").

What are some alternatives to saying "the weaponry is"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "the arsenal is", "the "armament is"", or describe specific weapons, such as "the available weapons include".