biological warfare

American  

noun

1. warfare that makes use of bacteria, viruses, toxins, etc., to disable or destroy people, domestic animals, and food crops. B.W.

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biological warfare British  

noun

1.  BW.  the use of living organisms or their toxic products to induce death or incapacity in humans and animals and damage to plant crops, etc

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biological warfare Cultural  

1. The use of biological agents as weapons in warfare. Also called germ warfare.

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Etymology

Origin of biological warfare

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

America’s biotech industry supports more than 10 million jobs, $3 trillion in economic output and gives America the capability to beat back pandemics and defeat biological warfare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said Monday he fears that artificial intelligence will empower America’s enemies to engage in biological warfare.

From Washington Times • Sep. 12, 2022

Now a leading expert on biological warfare has called on leaders of the G7 group of leading industrialised nations to consider tighter restrictions, warning loosely-regulated laboratories are a gateway for terrorists.

From BBC • May 30, 2021

Kalitin, the scientist at the heart of “Untraceable,” is based on a charismatic family friend who served as a military medic but in reality, Lebedev said, worked in biological warfare.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2021

“Don’t be so delicate! Flush it and clean it,” Amá says, rolling her eyes, as if she sees this kind of biological warfare on a daily basis.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez