arms race

noun

: a race between hostile nations to accumulate or develop weapons
broadly : an ever escalating race or competition

Examples of arms race in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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That included mass demonstrations demanding an end to the arms race. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026 Recruiting became an arms race. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026 Essentially, in the biological arms race of virus versus human, influenza A H3N2 has changed its plan of attack in key genetic areas that can sneak past our defenses. New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026 The irony here is that many in Washington have been openly fantasizing about how advanced AI systems could revolutionize military strategy and reshape geopolitics—to such an extent that this speculation has fueled a kind of arms race with China. Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arms race

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arms race was in 1921

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Cite this Entry

“Arms race.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arms%20race. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

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