Biological warfare (
BW)—also known as
germ warfare—is the use of biological toxins or
infectious agents such as
bacteria,
viruses, and
fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war.
Biological weapons (often termed "bio-weapons", "biological threat agents", or "bio-agents") are living
organisms or replicating entities (
viruses, which are not universally considered "alive") that reproduce or replicate within their
host victims.
Entomological (insect) warfare is also considered a type of biological weapon. This type of warfare is distinct from
nuclear warfare and
chemical warfare, which together with biological warfare make up NBC, the military acronym for nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare using
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). None of these are
conventional weapons, which are primarily effective due to their
explosive,
kinetic, or
incendiary potential.