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

Set in an alternative reality where the Cold War never ended and an atomic bomb has struck Soviet Kazakhstan, the film follows Sonja, a 22-year-old Swedish club kid working at one of the world’s hippest magazines. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025

Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi and Niels Bohr were among those engaged in building the world’s first atomic bomb at Los Alamos, a few miles from the ranch. —Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025

The 328-page book is an immersive account of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

In 1940, Katanga’s uranium deposits were widely believed to be the richest in the world, and Germany, whose scientists were also working on an atomic bomb, wanted to control the ore as desperately as the United States did. —Big Think, 26 Aug. 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