武器 | 定義、分類、及び事実

Weapon | Definition, Classification, & Facts | Britannica Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos weapon Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics Videos Quizzes Weapons and Warfare Weaponry, Energy, and Power Systems Quiz Contents CITE verified Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/weapon Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. External Websites HistoryNet - Weaponry: Le Mat National Park Service - Weapons-Evolution of Weapons Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. weapon - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) weapon - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) weapon military technology Ask Anything Homework Help Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 22, 2026 • History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything weapon , an instrument used in combat for the purpose of killing, injuring, or defeating an enemy. A weapon may be a shock weapon, held in the hands, such as the club , mace, or sword . It may also be a missile weapon, operated by muscle power (as with the javelin, sling , and bow and arrow ), mechanical power (as with the crossbow and catapult ), or chemical power (as with the rocket and missile and such guns as the cannon , rifle , and pistol ). Weapons may also be classified as conventional, destroying by kinetic energy (as with the bullet) or by chemical energy (as with the bomb and grenade). The nonconventional category comprises nuclear weapons, such as the atomic bomb and thermonuclear bomb , as well as weapons of chemical warfare and biological warfare . All the aforementioned are offensive weapons, but such defensive measures as fortification, armour, and the helmet have also been considered weapons. (Read Nobelist Jody Williams’ Britannica essay on landmines.) Weapons have been carried and delivered by a wide variety of vehicles, often called weapon platforms. These have included such naval craft as the ship of the line , battleship, submarine , and aircraft carrier; aircraft such as the fighter, bomber, and helicopter; and ground vehicles such as the chariot and tank . Key People: Archimedes Alfred Krupp Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach William R. Grace (Show more) Related Topics: chemical weapon biological weapon 7 Deadliest Weapons in History bomb weapon of mass destruction (Show more) See all related content Britannica Quiz Weapons and Warfare The history of weapons of war is treated in the article military technology . The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn .