WMD

American  

abbreviation

1. weapon/weapons of mass destruction: a weapon or weapons that can cause great destruction, loss of life, or injury.

   nuclear WMDs.

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WMD British  

abbreviation

1. weapon(s) of mass destruction

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Etymology

Origin of WMD

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Congress could temporarily extend the measures dealing with drones and WMD as part of a bill the House approved Tuesday to avert a government shutdown.

From Washington Times • Nov. 15, 2023

Even before he arrived, work was well under way  to prevent WMD attacks, or deal with them if they took place.

From BBC • Jul. 19, 2023

“We learned critical lessons in the wake of our flawed assessment of an active WMD program in Iraq in 2002,” Haines said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2023

"They have imposed costs on North Korea for their continued WMD development – but it seems a cost North Korea is willing to pay and can find partners who will work with them," she said.

From Reuters • Oct. 6, 2022

A new deterrence calculus combines the need to deter terrorists and supporters from contemplating a WMD attack and, failing that, to dissuade them from actually conducting an attack.

From National Strategy for Combating Terrorism September 2006 by National Security Council (U.S.)