biological warfare

noun

: warfare involving the use of biological weapons
also : warfare involving the use of herbicides

Examples of biological warfare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gabbard has also defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and espoused the same false claims—that there are U.S. biological warfare labs at the Ukrainian border—used by Putin to justify his actions. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2024 Other fears include world powers deploying nuclear weapons, terrorist attacks, biological warfare and not having enough money for the future. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 Similarly, a majority of respondents were also afraid of biological warfare, as well as America getting involved in another world war. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 For many decades, so have humans: The Japanese conducted brutal biological warfare experiments in World War II; both the U.S. and the Soviet Union stockpiled toxins during the Cold War, with the latter’s program continuing even after signing the Biological Weapons Convention in 1972. Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for biological warfare 

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biological warfare was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near biological warfare

Cite this Entry

“Biological warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biological%20warfare. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

biological warfare

noun
: warfare involving the use of biological weapons

Medical Definition

biological warfare

noun
biological war·​fare -ˈwȯr-ˌfa(ə)r, -ˌfe(ə)r How to pronounce biological warfare (audio)
: warfare involving the use of biological weapons
also : warfare involving the use of herbicides

More from Merriam-Webster on biological warfare

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!