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

Murphy shed weight to become the wiry, brilliant theoretical physicist tormented by his own creation, the atomic bomb. —Seth Doane, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026

Though, as a technical note, all atomic bombs are nuclear weapons, but not all nuclear weapons are atomic bombs. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026

Wells’s novel, published in 1914, anticipated the development of the atomic bomb, and even coined that name for it. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026

If it were enriched further to about 90%, that would be enough fissile material for roughly a dozen atomic bombs. —Yarden Segev, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026

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