Arms control refers to the process of regulating, reducing, or eliminating weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment. There are several synonyms for the term, including disarmament, arms limitation, non-proliferation, and arms reduction. Disarmament refers to the complete elimination of weapons by a state, group, or individual. Arms limitation, on the other hand, refers to the reduction of the number of weapons and ammunition in possession of a particular entity. Non-proliferation refers to the prevention of the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons to new states and actors. Finally, arms reduction refers to the decrease in weaponry and military equipment between nations that may be engaged in conflict or on high alert.