German word

Atomwaffe

Pronunciation

IPA/aˈtoːmˌvafə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounnuclear weapon

Example

Viele Menschen fürchten Atomwaffen.

Many people fear nuclear weapons.

Illustration for Atomwaffe (nuclear weapon)

More examples

In den Verhandlungen kündigte die Partei an, auf eine Atomwaffe verzichten zu wollen.

In the negotiations, the party announced that it intended to give up a nuclear weapon.

Core concept

A weapon defined by the destructive force of fission or fusion rather than by ordinary explosives or delivery equipment.

Common phrases

  • auf eine Atomwaffe verzichten

    give up a nuclear weapon

  • über eine Atomwaffe verfügen

    possess a nuclear weapon

Similar words

Atombombe: A bomb that produces an extremely powerful explosion through nuclear fission.
Kernwaffe: A general term for weapons and devices powered by atomic or nuclear energy.
Massenvernichtungswaffe: A weapon designed to destroy large numbers of people or objects at once.
Sprengkopf: The explosive section fitted to the front of a missile or shell.

Definition in German

Militärische Waffe, die durch Kernspaltung oder Kernfusion Energie freisetzt und dadurch massive Zerstörung sowie radioaktive Folgen hervorruft.

Word origin

The compound joins Atom, a learned term ultimately derived from Greek atomos, with the native German noun Waffe.

Usage tips

  • German uses Atomwaffe as a broad category term, while Atombombe names a specific bomb rather than every nuclear weapon.

Opposites

  • konventionelle Waffeconventional weaponnoun

Related words

  • Atomwaffenverbotnuclear weapons bannoun
  • atomwaffenfähignuclear-capableadjective

Word lists with this word