weaponization

American  

[wep-uhn-uh-zay-shuhn, -ahy-zay-shuhn] / ˌwɛp ən əˈzeɪ ʃən, -ˌaɪˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of using something as a weapon to gain advantage over an enemy or rival.

2. the act of equipping something, such as a vehicle, system, or country, with a weapon or weapons.

3. the act of developing something, such as a chemical or microorganism, expressly for use as a weapon of war.

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Example Sentences

“When you look at the overall weaponization, there’s so many parts to it,” Mock said.

From Slate • May 28, 2026

"Anybody in this country is eligible to apply if they believe they were a victim of weaponization," Blanche said.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

The real innovation of the past decade has been in engagement optimization, algorithmic content distribution and the weaponization of human psychology to generate advertising revenue.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday he plans to coordinate with allies to counter China’s weaponization of rare-earth minerals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

Though an initial damage analysis expressed skepticism, a consensus emerged that Iran’s enrichment and weaponization infrastructure, including centrifuges and uranium metalworking equipment, was destroyed or rendered inoperable.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2025