chemical warfare

noun

: tactical warfare using substances (such as incendiary mixtures, smoke, or gases) with irritant, burning, poisonous, or asphyxiating properties

There were other isolated instances of chemical warfare. The Greeks used a gas attack with sulphur fumes at the siege of Delium in 424 B.C.

—Bernard Brodie and Fawn M. Brodie

The forswearing of chemical warfare by the major combatants in World War II foreshadowed the later nuclear "balance of terror," during the Cold War.

—Clifford F. Beal

Examples of chemical warfare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The attack on the oil depots could be construed as chemical warfare, which violates international law, because the aggressors likely knew the hazards the civilians who live in Tehran would face, Cleetus said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026

Over the course of the eight-episode first season, young Sherlock teams up with new friend and future foe James Moriarty (Dónal Finn) to unravel an international conspiracy that can be traced back to his mad scientist father, Silas, who has plans to revolutionize the future of chemical warfare. —Max Gao, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026

In the same period, military programs tested dispersal of bacteria and chemical compounds over American cities and neighborhoods to evaluate vulnerabilities to biological or chemical warfare. —Akilah Weber Pierson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

From the origins of the Yakuza, the dawning of chemical warfare, and FDR’s spy shops, the novel treks across World War II to the dawn of the Cold War. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chemical warfare

• extraordinaire
• multimillionaire
• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare

Medical Definition

chemical warfare

noun

: tactical warfare using incendiary mixtures, smokes, or irritant, burning, poisonous, or asphyxiating gases