Weapon of mass destruction
Weapon that can kill many people or cause great damage / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Weapons of Mass Destruction (album), Weapons of Mass Distortion, or Weapons of Mass Distraction.
A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear, or any other weapon that can kill or significantly harm many people or cause great damage to artificial structures (e.g., buildings), natural structures (e.g., mountains), or the biosphere. The scope and usage of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Originally coined in reference to aerial bombing with chemical explosives during World War II, it has later come to refer to large-scale weaponry of warfare-related technologies, such as biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear warfare.
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![]() | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (April 2022) |