artillery
noun
ar·til·lery
är-ˈti-lə-rē 
-ˈtil-rē
plural artilleries
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
Herbert MitgangExamples of artillery in a Sentence
The troops were being bombarded by artillery.
a captain in the artillery
Recent Examples on the Web
The interceptor pilots, adapting air-to-air dogfighting tactics, became expert in taking out Russian drones , denying them the ability to see targets and direct artillery, rockets, missiles and drone strikes.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
South Korean intelligence officials have estimated that the North has sent Russia roughly 13,000 soldiers and millions of artillery shells, and Ukrainian officials believe as much as 40% of Russia’s ammunition now comes from North Korea, Bloomberg reported.
—Mathias Hammer, semafor.com, 13 July 2025
Missile stockpiles, artillery shells and drone inventories have all taken significant hits since the conflict began.
—Hunter Lacroix, Baltimore Sun, 13 July 2025
The ship’s forward artillery turrets remain pointing skyward, which proved to be the wrong direction, historians say.
—Mark Price
updated July 13, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for artillery
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David Hambling, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
South Korean intelligence officials have estimated that the North has sent Russia roughly 13,000 soldiers and millions of artillery shells, and Ukrainian officials believe as much as 40% of Russia’s ammunition now comes from North Korea, Bloomberg reported.
—Mathias Hammer, semafor.com, 13 July 2025
Missile stockpiles, artillery shells and drone inventories have all taken significant hits since the conflict began.
—Hunter Lacroix, Baltimore Sun, 13 July 2025
The ship’s forward artillery turrets remain pointing skyward, which proved to be the wrong direction, historians say.
—Mark Price
updated July 13, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for artillery
Cite this Entry
“Artillery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artillery. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
artillery
noun
ar·til·lery
är-ˈtil-(ə-)rē
plural artilleries
1
: large firearms (as cannon or rockets)
2
: a branch of an army armed with artillery
artilleryman
noun
-mən
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