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

The 223,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza—roughly equivalent to 15 times the power of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima—have killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of them civilians, and reduced most of Gaza to rubble. — Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026

The merging of Hurricane Polo with the jet stream over the continental United States will inject many atomic bombs worth of energy into the atmosphere in short order. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Since the invention of the Monte Carlo method in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, algorithmic programming has quickly inscribed itself in most, if not all, human experiences. — Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026

On August 6, 1945, President Harry Truman told the world the United States had dropped the first atomic bomb, on Hiroshima, Japan. — Scott Simon, NPR, 26 Sep. 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