atomic bomb

noun

1

: a bomb whose violent explosive power is due to the sudden release of energy resulting from the splitting of nuclei of a heavy chemical element (such as plutonium or uranium) by neutrons in a very rapid chain reaction

called also atom bomb

2

: a nuclear weapon (such as a hydrogen bomb)

Examples of atomic bomb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sue Dearing, a former president of the Democratic Club, will go back 80 years to the dropping of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima in 1945, with its comparatively small strength of 15 kilotons compared to today’s warheads of 475 kilotons and more. —Daniella Walsh, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025

Los Alamos, New Mexico, with a median home value of $452,500, is home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the atomic bomb was developed. —Natalie Wu, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025

An exception was nuclear physics, which Stalin spared for the atomic bomb project. —Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Its draft proposals are landing like an atomic bomb among proponents of free markets who had previously been aligned with the leading conservative think tank. —Emily Brooks, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for atomic bomb

• microbiome
• aplomb
• balaam
• cocom
• embalm
• islam
• pogrom
• salaam
• sitcom
• balm
• bom
• calm

Kids Definition

atomic bomb

noun

1

: a bomb whose violent explosive power is due to the sudden release of energy resulting from the splitting of nuclei of a heavy chemical element (as plutonium or uranium) by neutrons

called also atom bomb

2

: hydrogen bomb