A
weapon of mass destruction (
WMD or
WoMD) is a
nuclear,
radiological,
chemical,
biological or other
weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage to human-made structures (e.g. buildings), natural structures (e.g. mountains), or the
biosphere. The scope and application of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Originally coined in reference to
aerial bombing with chemical explosives, since
World War II it has come to refer to large-scale weaponry of other technologies, such as
chemical,
biological,
radiological, or
nuclear.