Definition

1. Noun:
   • The process of equipping or preparing military forces with weapons and other necessary equipment: This refers to the act of supplying a military organization with the tools needed for combat or defense.
   • The weapons and military equipment collectively possessed by a country or military force: This refers to the total stock of weapons, such as guns, missiles, tanks, and naval artillery.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The rapid armament of the border troops heightened tensions. (The quick equipping of the soldiers at the border with weapons increased political strain.)
  • The treaty aimed to limit the naval armament of both nations. (The agreement was designed to restrict the total warships and weapons of the countries' navies.)

Advanced Usage

• "Armament race" or "arms race": A competition between nations to achieve superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons.
  • The Cold War was characterized by a prolonged nuclear armament race.
• "Armament industry": The sector of manufacturing concerned with producing weapons and military technology.
  • The country's economy became heavily dependent on its armament industry.

Variants and Related Words

• Arm (verb): To supply with weapons.
  • The militia was armed with rifles.
• Disarmament (noun): The reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons.
  • The summit focused on nuclear disarmament.
• Rearmament (noun): The action of equipping again with weapons, typically on a larger scale or with newer technology.
  • The period following the treaty violation saw a swift rearmament.

Synonyms

• Weaponry: Weapons collectively.
• Munitions: Military weapons, ammunition, and equipment.
• Ordnance: Military supplies, especially weapons and ammunition.

Related Phrases

• "To scale up armament": To increase the level or quantity of weapons and military equipment.
  • The general argued for scaling up armament in response to the new threat.
• "Level of armament": The degree or amount of weaponry possessed.
  • The inspection aimed to verify the declared level of armament.

Related Idioms

(Note: The word "armament" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. The related concept is typically expressed through "arms," as in the idioms below.) - "To be up in arms": To be very angry and protesting strongly about something. - Residents were up in arms over the planned factory closure. - "To take up arms": To prepare to fight, to go to war. - The citizens were forced to take up arms to defend their homes.

Noun

1. the act of equiping with weapons in preparation for war
2. weaponry used by military or naval force