Artillery refers to large, powerful weapons designed to fire projectiles over long distances, like cannons, howitzers, and missile launchers. Unlike a rifle or pistol that a single soldier carries, artillery pieces are heavy weapons that require teams of soldiers to operate and often need vehicles or tractors to move them into position.

Throughout history, artillery has shaped the outcome of battles and wars. Medieval armies used primitive cannons to break down castle walls that had protected defenders for centuries. During the American Civil War, artillery batteries could devastate infantry formations from over a mile away. In modern warfare, artillery can strike targets many miles away with remarkable accuracy.

The word also refers to the military units that operate these weapons. An artillery regiment consists of the soldiers, equipment, and vehicles needed to transport, aim, and fire these large weapons. Artillery crews train extensively because operating these complex weapons requires precise coordination, mathematical calculations to account for distance and wind, and careful teamwork.

People sometimes use artillery figuratively to describe any powerful collection of arguments or resources: a lawyer might bring out the heavy artillery when presenting her strongest evidence in court, or a teacher might deploy verbal artillery of tough questions during a debate.