chemical warfare

[kem-i-kuhl wawr-fair]

noun

1. warfare with poisonous, asphyxiating, or corrosive gases, oil flames, etc. CW

chemical warfare

noun

1. warfare in which chemicals other than explosives are used as weapons, esp warfare using asphyxiating or nerve gases, poisons, defoliants, etc

chemical warfare

1. The use of chemical agents as a weapon of war or terror. From the mustard gas used in World War I to the highly lethal neurotoxin Sarin that is potentially available for use today, chemicals are considered a weapon of mass destruction, and their use is condemned by most civilized nations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemical warfare¹

First recorded in 1915–20