nuclear weapon

American  

[noo-klee-er wep-uhn, nyoo-] / ˈnu kli ər ˈwɛp ən, ˈnju- /

noun

nuclear weapons plural

1. an explosive device whose destructive potential derives from the release of energy that accompanies the splitting or combining of atomic nuclei.

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nuclear weapon Scientific  

1. A weapon whose destructive power comes from nuclear energy; an atomic bomb or a hydrogen bomb.

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nuclear weapon Cultural  

1. Any weapon that employs a nuclear reaction for its explosive power. Nuclear weapons include ballistic missiles, bombs (see atomic bomb (see also atomic bomb) and hydrogen bomb), artillery rounds, and mines.

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Pronunciation

See nuclear ( def. ).

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nuclear weapons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nuclear weapon

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, meanwhile, warned that any final US-Iran settlement would need strong safeguards to ensure Tehran does not build a nuclear weapon.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

Iran has agreed to not procure or buy a nuclear weapon, and both sides have agreed to deal with the enriched uranium Tehran already has.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

He said the agreement would immediately reopen the crucial waterway and had obtained the long-term commitment that Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

Most recently, he has emphasized that the sole goal is to keep Iran from building a nuclear weapon.

From Slate • Jun. 15, 2026

For example, four Russian submarines prowled the waters near Cuba, each one carrying a torpedo loaded with a nuclear weapon.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• atomic bomb
• hydrogen bomb
• neutron bomb