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

The center is located at Fort Detrick, Md., where U.S. biological warfare defenses are studied and it is considered more experienced in dealing with virus threats than other spy agencies.

From Washington Times • Sep. 1, 2021

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