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 law compensated people in about a dozen western states who developed serious illnesses from nuclear testing and manufacturing stemming from World War II-era efforts to develop the atomic bomb. —Arkansas Online, 14 June 2025

Nagasaki was the second city in the world—after Hiroshima—to come under a nuclear attack when the U.S. detonated an atomic bomb there on August 9, 1945, prompting Japan's surrender and officially ending World War II. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

Last year, Cameron acquired the rights to author Charles Pellegrino’s book Ghosts of Hiroshima, focusing on the story of the atomic bomb. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2025

Breakthroughs by Niels Bohr, born in Denmark, and Enrico Fermi were crucial in developing the atomic bomb. —Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 1 June 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