: the use of harmful microorganisms (such as bacteria) as weapons in war
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebIn the 21st century, the practice has become a form of germ warfare.BostonGlobe.com, 19 May 2021 The allegations of germ warfare were worldwide news in the first months of 1952.The Economist, 3 Oct. 2020 The Soviets had a keen interest in the Marburg virus in the 1980s and managed to develop an especially lethal strain after an accident at the Vector Institute, their germ warfare center in Siberia. Lucy Cooke, ajc, 3 July 2018 The Soviets had a keen interest in the Marburg virus in the 1980s and managed to develop an especially lethal strain after an accident at the Vector Institute, their germ warfare center in Siberia. Lucy Cooke, ajc, 3 July 2018 The Soviets had a keen interest in the Marburg virus in the 1980s and managed to develop an especially lethal strain after an accident at the Vector Institute, their germ warfare center in Siberia. Lucy Cooke, ajc, 3 July 2018 The Soviets had a keen interest in the Marburg virus in the 1980s and managed to develop an especially lethal strain after an accident at the Vector Institute, their germ warfare center in Siberia. Lucy Cooke, ajc, 3 July 2018 The Soviets had a keen interest in the Marburg virus in the 1980s and managed to develop an especially lethal strain after an accident at the Vector Institute, their germ warfare center in Siberia. Lucy Cooke, ajc, 3 July 2018 The Soviets had a keen interest in the Marburg virus in the 1980s and managed to develop an especially lethal strain after an accident at the Vector Institute, their germ warfare center in Siberia. Lucy Cooke, ajc, 3 July 2018 See More
Word History
First Known Use
1938, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
germ warfare
noun
germ war·fare -ˈwȯr-ˌfe(ə)r
: the use of harmful microorganisms (as bacteria) as weapons in war