Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Ammunition has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
projectiles to be fired from a gun
"The soldier loaded fresh ammunition into his rifle before heading out on patrol."
any nuclear or chemical or biological material that can be used as a weapon of mass destruction
"The international treaty was established to prevent the proliferation of ammunition in the form of nuclear, chemical, and biological materials."
information that can be used to attack or defend a claim or argument or viewpoint
"his admission provided ammunition for his critics"
Articles used in charging firearms and ordnance of all kinds; as powder, balls, shot, shells, percussion caps, rockets, etc.
"The soldier spent his evening loading fresh ammunition into the rifle's magazine before heading out on patrol."
In plain English: Ammunition is bullets, shells, and other materials used to load into guns so they can fire projectiles at targets.
"The soldier ran to find more ammunition for his rifle before engaging the enemy."
Usage: The plural form "ammunitions" is incorrect when referring to the general concept or a single type of round; use only in specific contexts like "munitions." When used as a verb, it typically requires an object indicating what is being supplied.
To supply with ammunition.
"The logistics team was tasked to supply the soldiers with enough ammunition to last through the entire battle."
In plain English: To ammunition something is to give it more power, energy, or supplies so it can work better.
"The general did not want to use up all his ammunition for this battle."
The word ammunition entered English through Old French after speakers mistakenly split the phrase "la munition" into what they thought was a separate noun and article. It ultimately traces back to the Latin root munire, meaning to fortify or defend, originally referring specifically to war supplies before its modern usage expanded.