test ban

American  

noun

1. an agreement by nations producing nuclear weapons to refrain from testing them in the atmosphere.

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test ban British  

noun

1. an agreement among nations to forgo tests of some or all types of nuclear weapons

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Other Word Forms

• test-ban adjective

Etymology

Origin of test ban

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

The method is based upon the fact that the percentage of radioactive carbon in the atmosphere, and subsequently in our cells, has steadily decreased since the nuclear test ban in 1963.

From Science Daily

The U.S. and the Soviet Union signed a nuclear test ban treaty a year later, in 1963, which prohibited further testing of nuclear weapons in space.

From Seattle Times

He said that senior lawmakers will discuss recalling the 2000 ratification of the nuclear test ban at the next meeting of the agenda-setting house council.

From Seattle Times

Experts at national defense laboratories haven’t been able to physically validate the effectiveness and reliability of nuclear warheads since a 1992 underground test ban.

From Washington Times

The United States first signaled its support for an anti-satellite weapon test ban in December.

From Reuters