artillery

noun

ar·​til·​lery är-ˈti-lə-rē How to pronounce artillery (audio)
-ˈtil-rē
plural artilleries
Synonyms of artillerynext
1
: weapons (such as bows, slings, and catapults) for discharging missiles
2
a
: large bore mounted firearms (such as guns, howitzers, and rockets) : ordnance
especially : such ordnance that is capable of long-range indirect fire at a target too distant to be seen
b
: a branch of an army armed with artillery
3
: a means of impressing, arguing, persuading, or competing
… indicated that the Bureau had not rolled out its heavy artillery for a full-scale investigation.—Herbert Mitgang

Synonyms of artillery

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Examples of artillery in a Sentence

The troops were being bombarded by artillery. a captain in the artillery
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nearby, blueberry bushes cover old foxholes, trenches and deep craters from artillery fire. — Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 Upon being notified of a Ukrainian vehicle, the operator can verify the target and determine the best way to engage it, including by calling for artillery fire or directing a strike drone against the vehicle. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Analysis also found a lead artillery case-shot ball near his neck, though officials have not determined a definitive cause of death. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Central Park became a battlefield with artillery smoke, marching troops, and cannon fire. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for artillery

Word History

Etymology

Middle English artilrie, artillerie "instruments of war, weapons for discharging missiles," borrowed from Anglo-French & continental Middle French artelrie, artillerie, from Old French artillier "to equip, provide with instruments of war" (alteration, probably after art "skill, craft, art entry 1" and its derivatives, of atiller, atillier "to order, adjust, put on pieces of armor") + -rie, -erie -ery; atiller, atillier going back to Vulgar Latin *apticulāre, from Latin aptāre "to put into position, bring to bear, make ready" + Vulgar Latin *-iculāre, as in *appariculāre "to prepare, equip, apparel entry 2" — more at adapt

Note: The expected outcome of *apticulāre would be *ateiller rather than atiller, which would appear to derive from *aptīculāre; the discrepancy has been explained as a result of interference from the semantically similar verb atirier, atirer "to equip, prepare" (see attire entry 1).

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of artillery was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing artillery

Rhymes for artillery

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Browse Nearby Words

artillerist
artillery
artilleryman
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Cite this Entry

“Artillery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artillery. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

artillery

noun
ar·​til·​lery är-ˈtil-(ə-)rē How to pronounce artillery (audio)
plural artilleries
1
: large firearms (as cannon or rockets)
2
: a branch of an army armed with artillery
artilleryman
-mən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on artillery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about artillery

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