test ban

American  

noun

1. an agreement by nations producing nuclear weapons to refrain from testing them in the atmosphere.

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test ban British  

noun

1. an agreement among nations to forgo tests of some or all types of nuclear weapons

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Other Word Forms

• test-ban adjective

Etymology

Origin of test ban

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

DiNanno said the Chinese military “sought to conceal testing by obfuscating the nuclear explosions because it recognized these tests violate test ban commitments.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

The method is based upon the fact that the percentage of radioactive carbon in the atmosphere, and subsequently in our cells, has steadily decreased since the nuclear test ban in 1963.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2024

Experts at national defense laboratories haven’t been able to physically validate the effectiveness and reliability of nuclear warheads since a 1992 underground test ban.

From Washington Times • Oct. 5, 2023

Robert Floyd, head of the U.N. nuclear test ban treaty organization, said, “Globally we’re facing challenging, worrying times.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2023

This composition ensured that the panel would lean toward opposing a test ban based on doubts about the feasibility of inspections.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik