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Glite Dictionary
soft ordnance

soft ordnance

7.8
A weapon that is not meant to kill people and is used for training and to control crowds
  • noun
  • /sɔft ˈɔrdnəns/
  • Specialized
translation icon : municiones no letales
  • Training exercises often utilize soft ordnance to ensure the safety of all participants.

Examples

  • The use of soft ordnance has increased as militaries seek to minimize collateral damage.

  • During riot control, security forces may deploy soft ordnance to disperse crowds safely.

  • The military uses soft ordnance to ensure safety during training exercises.

  • Have you seen the new soft ordnance for crowd control?

  • During riot control, security forces may deploy soft ordnance to disperse crowds safely.

  • The use of soft ordnance has increased as militaries seek to minimize collateral damage.

  • Training exercises often utilize soft ordnance to ensure the safety of all participants.

How Lethal

weapon
∞ 1.0
soft ordnance
  • Specialized
7.8

Surface Forms

soft ordnance singular
soft ordnances plural

Morphology

soft + ordnance

The phrase is compositionally built: 'ordnance' means weapons/ammunition and 'soft' signals reduced severity or hardness, so a learner who knows both words can infer 'less-lethal or reduced-harm weapons'. Although 'soft' is used somewhat metaphorically here, the modifier-to-noun logic is straightforward and mirrors cross-linguistic patterns for terms like 'non-lethal' or 'less-lethal'.

Etymology

Soft ordnance pairs soft and ordnance to create a clear image: soft means 'not meant to kill' and ordnance means 'weapons', so think of rubber bullets, water cannons or training rounds that are made to hurt less. That's why the phrase means 'non-lethal weapons or devices' used to reduce harm in training and crowd control.