What does biological warfare mean?

Definitions for biological warfare
bi·o·log·i·cal war·fare

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word biological warfare.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. biological warfare, BW, biological attack, biologic attack, bioattacknoun

    the use of bacteria or viruses or toxins to destroy men and animals or food

Wiktionary

  1. biological warfarenoun

    The use of any harmful organism (such as a bacterium or virus) as a weapon of war.

Wikipedia

  1. Biological warfare

    Biological warfare, also known as germ warfare, is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi with the intent to kill, harm or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. Biological weapons (often termed "bio-weapons", "biological threat agents", or "bio-agents") are living organisms or replicating entities ( ⁠i.e. viruses, which are not universally considered "alive"). Entomological (insect) warfare is a subtype of biological warfare. Offensive biological warfare is prohibited under customary international humanitarian law and several international treaties. In particular, the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) bans the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological weapons. Therefore, the use of biological agents in armed conflict is a war crime. In contrast, defensive biological research for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes is not prohibited by the BWC.Biological warfare is distinct from warfare involving other types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including nuclear warfare, chemical warfare, and radiological warfare. None of these are considered conventional weapons, which are deployed primarily for their explosive, kinetic, or incendiary potential. Biological weapons may be employed in various ways to gain a strategic or tactical advantage over the enemy, either by threats or by actual deployments. Like some chemical weapons, biological weapons may also be useful as area denial weapons. These agents may be lethal or non-lethal, and may be targeted against a single individual, a group of people, or even an entire population. They may be developed, acquired, stockpiled or deployed by nation states or by non-national groups. In the latter case, or if a nation-state uses it clandestinely, it may also be considered bioterrorism.Biological warfare and chemical warfare overlap to an extent, as the use of toxins produced by some living organisms is considered under the provisions of both the BWC and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Toxins and psychochemical weapons are often referred to as midspectrum agents. Unlike bioweapons, these midspectrum agents do not reproduce in their host and are typically characterized by shorter incubation periods.

Wikidata

  1. Biological warfare

    Biological warfare — also known as germ warfare — is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. Biological weapons are living organisms or replicating entities that reproduce or replicate within their host victims. Entomological warfare is also considered a type of Biological Weapon. Biological weapons may be employed in various ways to gain a strategic or tactical advantage over an adversary, either by threats or by actual deployments. Like some of the chemical weapons, biological weapons may also be useful as area denial weapons. These agents may be lethal or non-lethal, and may be targeted against a single individual, a group of people, or even an entire population. They may be developed, acquired, stockpiled or deployed by nation states or by non-national groups. In the latter case, or if a nation-state uses it clandestinely, it may also be considered bioterrorism. There is an overlap between BW and chemical warfare, as the use of toxins produced by living organisms is considered under the provisions of both the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Toxins and Psychochemical weapons are often referred to as midspectrum agents. Unlike bioweapons, these midspectrum agents do not reproduce in their host and are typically characterized by shorter incubation periods.

U.S. National Library of Medicine

  1. Biological Warfare

    Warfare involving the use of living organisms or their products as disease etiologic agents against people, animals, or plants.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

  1. biological warfare

    Employment of biological agents to produce casualties in personnel or animals, or damage to plants or materiel; or defense against such employment.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of biological warfare in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of biological warfare in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of biological warfare in a Sentence

  1. Mike Pence:

    > (CNN)This week, White House news revolved around the three S's: sanctions, space and special (special election and special counsel). The Trump administration reimposed US sanctions on Iran, which went back into effect Tuesday. A day later, the State Department announced that the US will impose sanctions on Russia under a chemical and biological warfare law after the poisoning of a former Russian agent and his daughter in the United Kingdom earlier this year. Then came #spaceforce. As CNN's Ryan Browne reported,  BTW, Trump's re-election team is already planning on selling.


Translations for biological warfare

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"biological warfare." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/biological+warfare>.

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