bioterrorism

noun

bio·​ter·​ror·​ism ˌbī-ō-ˈter-ər-ˌi-zəm 

-ə-ˌri-

: terrorism involving the use of biological weapons

bioterrorist

ˌbī-ō-ˈter-ər-ist 

-ə-rist

adjective or noun

Examples of bioterrorism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nuclear bomb-making — like bioterrorism, financial meltdowns and network sabotage — is exactly the kind of existential AI risk Musk has long warned about. —Scott Rosenberg, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024

The Twist: Instead of bioterrorism or anything that makes a modicum of sense, the real enemy here is Mother Nature. —James Grebey, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024

There is also the possibility that smallpox could be used for bioterrorism. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2024

But the bill’s definition of high-risk life sciences research is overly broad and ambiguous, and duplicative of existing regulations covering agents of bioterrorism concern and dual-use research. —David Gillum, Rebecca Moritz, STAT, 19 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bioterrorism

noun

bio·​ter·​ror·​ism -ˈter-ər-ˌiz-əm 

: terrorism involving the use of biological weapons

bioterrorist

-ər-əst 

noun

Medical Definition

bioterrorism

noun

bio·​ter·​ror·​ism -ˈter-ər-ˌiz-əm 

: terrorism involving the use of biological weapons

bioterrorist

-ər-əst 

adjective or noun