arms race

noun

1. competition between countries to achieve superiority in quantity and quality of military arms.

arms race

noun

1. the continuing competitive attempt by two or more nations each to have available to it more and more powerful weapons than the other(s)

Word History and Origins

Origin of arms race¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

These stakes have created a financial arms race that almost certainly will make this election historically expensive.

From The Daily Beast

Hypersonic weapons are the new arms race, with the United States, Russia, India and China all racing to develop them.

From The Daily Beast

The latest in push button warfare, hypersonic weapons have launched a new arms race among the big powers—emphasis on the race.

From The Daily Beast

He wrote at length about the dangers of the nuclear arms race.

From The Daily Beast

Instead of shaming executives, we might see a political spending arms race.

From The Daily Beast

The deadly arms race, and the huge resources it absorbs, have too long overshadowed all else we must do.

From Project Gutenberg

A further agreement to limit the strategic arms race may be achieved.

From Project Gutenberg

It's like an escalation in the arms race, and understandably, no one wants to disarm alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Deep down, the Soviets must know it's in their interest as well as ours to prevent a wasteful arms race.

From Project Gutenberg

Everyone knows elections have become too expensive, fueling a fund-raising arms race.

From Project Gutenberg