Standard Lemma guide

bioweapon

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈbaɪ.əʊˌwɛ.pən/
  • US: /ˈbaɪ.oʊˌwɛ.pən/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any weapon designed to be used in biological warfare.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

any weapon usable in biological warfare

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they feared use of the smallpox virus as a bioweapon

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: biological weapon, bioarm

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: weapon of mass destruction, WMD, W.M.D.

Narrower terms: Bacillus anthracis, anthrax bacillus, clostridium perfringens, aflatoxin, botulin, botulinus toxin, botulismotoxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, SEB

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gweyh3-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-)der. English bio- English weapon English bioweapon From bio- + weapon.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: سِلَاح بَيُولُوجِيّ (silāḥ bayūlūjiyy) — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Dutch: biologisch wapen — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Dutch: biowapen — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Finnish: bioase — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • French: arme biologique — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • German: Biowaffe — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Japanese: 生物兵器 (seibutsu heiki) — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Polish: broń biologiczna — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Portuguese: arma biológica — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Russian: биологи́ческое ору́жие (biologíčeskoje orúžije) — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Spanish: bioarma — weapon designed for use in biological warfare
  • Swedish: biovapen — weapon designed for use in biological warfare