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

Other exhibits include the B-29 Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and an Air France Concorde supersonic passenger jet. —Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Chicago’s role in the breakthrough experiment wasn’t revealed publicly until after the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan — nearly three years later. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026

That explosion, caused by friction as the meteor hurtled through the atmosphere, released 30 times more energy than the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, according to NASA. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 18 May 2026

As previously reported, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius released thermal energy roughly equivalent to 100,000 times the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, spewing molten rock, pumice, and hot ash over the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in particular. —ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for atomic bomb

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

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