# what is a "weapon of mass destruction?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/162172>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 18, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/162172 "2003-03-18T01:29:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![The\_Humungus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@The\_Humungus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Humungus)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/162172/1 "2003-03-18T01:29:46Z")

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What is the difference between a “weapon” and a “weapon of mass destruction?” I understand why a nuke would be the latter and a gun be the former, but it seems as though the military would have guidlines for categorizing them as such. I’m thinking something like “x casualties in y radius,” but that’s just a guess. if I’m right, what are x and y? If the measurment is just based on power, how do chemical weapons fit in?