arsenal

noun

ar·​se·​nal ˈärs-nəl How to pronounce arsenal (audio)
ˈär-sə-
1
a
: an establishment for the manufacture or storage of arms and military equipment
The city is home to a federal arsenal.
b
: a collection of weapons
2
: store, repertoire
the team's arsenal of veteran players

Examples of arsenal in a Sentence

The city is home to a federal arsenal. Doctors have a broad arsenal of medicines to choose from. the team's arsenal of veteran players
Recent Examples on the Web BandLab’s music-making software includes an arsenal of virtual instruments, as well as the ability to automatically generate multipart vocal harmonies, record, sample and manipulate sound in myriad ways. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024 Everyone needs a nonstick pan in their arsenal, and this GreenPan skillet is the move for both experienced and novice home cooks. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Ukraine also surrendered its nuclear arsenal in exchange for guarantees, including from Russia, that the country’s territorial sovereignty would be respected. David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The film aims to evoke the timeless creature features of the 1980s with an ambitious arsenal of scares and comedy. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Adding a hypersonic missile to their arsenal could pose a more formidable challenge to the air defense systems employed by America and its allies, including Israel. Jon Gambrell, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 The Philippines is also building up its military arsenal with foreign help. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Counterbalancing the arsenal of go-fast tech, the optional monobloc calipers and carbon-ceramic brakes scrub 124 mph to zero in 371 feet, which is 16 feet less than required by the 720S. There’s a bit more theatricality on tap this time around as well. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2024 Utilizing billboards, a major art installation, an open letter from top artists published in the Los Angeles Times, social media videos and more, the campaign aims to raise public awareness about the civilization-ending risks posed by today’s nuclear arsenals. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arsenal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "dockyard for the construction and repair of naval vessels," borrowed from Middle French archenal, arsenail, arsenal (in reference to the naval dockyard of Venice), borrowed (with conformation of the final to -al -al entry 2) from Upper Italian (Venice) arzanà, presumably alteration (by metanalysis, with the initial taken as the preposition d', di "from") of darsenà (attested in Genoese, earlier in Medieval Latin as darsena, darsana), borrowed from Arabic dār al-ṣināʽa "place of manufacture," from dār "house" + al "the" (assimilated to aṣ) + ṣināʽa "manufacture" (derivative of ṣanaʽa "to make")

Note: Forms with final -ale (as arsenale, arzanale, arzenale) are attested in Italian in the sixteenth century and may be the immediate source of the English word. The French forms with -al may reflect these, though attested about a century earlier. As arzanà the Venetian word is attested in the text of Dante's Inferno ("nell'arzanà de' Viniziani," XXI, 7).

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of arsenal was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near arsenal

Cite this Entry

“Arsenal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arsenal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

arsenal

noun
ar·​se·​nal ˈärs-nəl How to pronounce arsenal (audio)
-ᵊn-əl
1
: a place for the manufacture or storage of arms
2
: a collection of weapons

More from Merriam-Webster on arsenal

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