armament
/ˈɑːməm(ə)nt
/noun [mass noun] (also armaments)
1Military weapons and equipment: national armaments could be kept to a minimum [mass noun]: they brought up more reinforcements and more armament [as modifier]: armaments factories...
- His first war appointment was to oversee the construction of armament factories and military installations.
- In fact, missile armament formally does not include weapons and special armament delivery vehicles and weapon use control systems.
- Anti-tank weapons, the main armament of Infantry Fighting Vehicles or Main Battle Tanks can be used to blast positions with direct fire.
Synonyms
arms, weapons (of war), weaponry, firearms, guns, ordnance, cannon, artillery, munitions, instruments of war, war machines, military supplies, materiel
1.1The process of equipping military forces for war: instruments of disarmament rather than of armament...
- Just before the war the British had begun converting old fleet destroyers into specialized escort vessels with A-A and enhanced anti-submarine armament, and this process continued with older destroyers into the war years.
- This was because the disposition and armament of the armed forces had been for centuries in the exclusive discretion of the Crown.
- It was necessary to build a conventional ARVN in order to meet that threat, as well as to act against guerrilla forces which were increasing in strength and armament, provided by North Vietnam.
1.2 [count noun] archaic A military force equipped for war.
Origin
Late 17th century (in the sense 'force equipped for war'): from Latin armamentum, from armare 'to arm' (see arm2).