nonproliferation

noun

Opposition to the spread of something, especially nuclear weapons.

“Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty”

Similar
non-proliferation
Opposite
proliferation
OriginEnglish proliferation ← French prolifération ← Middle English non- →
Less commonScrabble 21
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Meanings

nounnonproliferation (usually uncountable, plural nonproliferations)

plural nonproliferations · alternative non-proliferation

  1. uncountableusuallyOpposition to the spread of something, especially nuclear weapons.

    Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe prevention of something increasing or spreading (especially the prevention of an increase in the number of countries possessing nuclear weapons)

Similar
non-proliferation
Opposite
proliferation
Broader
preventionbar

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Germanic*ne
  3. Proto-Indo-European*ís?
  4. Proto-Indo-European*h₁óynos
  5. Proto-Germanic*ainaz
  6. Proto-Germanic*nainaz
  7. Proto-West Germanic*nain
  8. Old Englishnān
  9. Middle Englishnon
  10. Old Englishnān
  11. Old Englishnān-
  12. Middle Englishnon-
  13. Englishnon-
  14. Frenchproliférer
  15. Frenchprolifération
  16. Englishproliferation
  17. Englishnonproliferation

From non- + proliferation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish rajoitus, sulku
  • rajoitusTranslations
  • sulkuTranslations
French non-prolifération
  • non-proliférationTranslations
Polish nierozprzestrzenianie
  • nierozprzestrzenianieTranslations
Russian нераспростране́ние
  • нераспростране́ние (nerasprostranénije)Translations
Swedish icke-spridning
  • icke-spridningTranslations
Ukrainian нерозповсю́дження
  • нерозповсю́дження (nerozpovsjúdžennja)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

nonproliferation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nonproliferation

MLA

“nonproliferation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nonproliferation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nonproliferation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nonproliferation.

Source: nonproliferation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.